Twelve months since its launch, LINK, the UK’s main cash machine network, has installed 37 ATMs in response to changes in the ATM network and requests from consumers. From locations ranging from Durness in the North West Highlands to Battle in East Sussex, to date more than £10m has been withdrawn.
August was a record month for installations, with ten new machines going live including the latest in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
All the free to use ATMs are funded through LINK’s Financial Inclusion Programme and are locations identified by LINK where either an existing free machine was removed or switched to charging, or which have not had a cash machine before. The Financial Inclusion Programme protects free to use ATMs in remote and deprived locations across the UK. Currently, more than 3,000 free ATMs are protected.
More than 3,000 requests have been made from communities through LINK’s website. LINK expect to install between 100 and 150 ATMs to guarantee free access to cash.
LINK’s Head of Financial Inclusion, Nick Quin: “We’re delighted to be supporting communities and businesses across the country with free access to cash. COVID-19 has proven that the most vulnerable people in society will continue to require free cash access for a long time to come, and we’re determined to respond to that need.”
“It’s great to see so many communities engage directly. We’ve responded to all enquiries to date and have visited 250 locations so far.
“If you think your community has a problem, then firstly we always ask people to check the LINK ATM locator, as the majority of locations have good access. Not everyone is aware that there’s a free to use machine nearby or that the Post Office provide an over the counter service. We’ve heard from communities where ATMs are in shops that have restricted opening times, or on the other side of a busy road, and wherever there is a genuine issue we will act. Communities will always know their areas better than we can, so we want to hear from more.”
