News

• Northern Ireland remains most cash-heavy part of the UK
• Average adult visits a cash machine 15 times per year and withdraws £90

New data published today by LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, shows that despite the shift towards digital payments, UK adults withdrew on an average £1,352 from cash machines in 2025, a 5% decrease on 2024’s £1,424.

In total, adults over the age of 16, made 832 million cash withdrawals last year, 87 million (9%) less than in 2024. This works out at approximately 15 trips to the ATM per person, withdrawing an average of £92 each time.

ATMs represent 87% of all cash withdrawals in the UK, ahead of cashback and counter transactions at bank branches, post offices and banking hubs.

Within the data, we can see that every region and nation across the UK saw a fall in total cash withdrawals. This was highest in London with a decrease of 11%, lowest in Northern Ireland with a decrease of 6%. The average value of cash withdrawn increased from £87 to £92 across the whole UK. This complements LINK’s ongoing research, consumers are visiting ATMs less often, but withdrawing more cash when they do.

Northern Ireland remains the most cash heavy part of the UK with consumers withdrawing an average £2,249 in 2025. The second and third heaviest regions were Scotland (£1,550) and the North-West (£1,529). The average cash withdrawn was lowest in the South-West, where the average consumer withdrew £974. This is the first time the average has dropped below £1,000 in any region.

While more people are choosing to pay using contactless and digital payments, cash remains popular. Recent research by LINK shows that while only half of adults (48%) carry a physical purse or wallet with them on a daily basis, 51% say they have used cash in the last week. Additionally, more than six-in-ten (61%) have experienced payment failures; for one-third, system outages were to blame. Of those experiencing payment failures, a fifth were forced to abandon purchases, and more than one-in-ten had to rely on others to foot the bill.

ATM numbers

LINK’s role is to protect the footprint of the cash access network, ensuring everyone can get the cash that they need. As cash use continues its long-term decline, the number of ATMs has also fallen, as expected. By the end of 2025, there were 5% per cent fewer cash machines than at the end of 2024 (42,403 vs 44,569). Of these, 33,710 are free-to-use, down from 35,468 and 8,693 charging ATMs, down from 9,101. LINK’s Financial Inclusion Programme works to ensure everyone has good free access to cash and the geographic coverage of cash access has remained the same.

Graham Mott, Director of Strategy, LINK: “Digital payments are increasingly popular and our data shows that millions are comfortable and happy to leave their home relying on their digital wallet on their smartwatch or smartphone. Even though usage is falling in every part of the UK, cash remains resilient, and essential to millions of people. LINK’s job is to ensure that we continue to have excellent access to cash on every high street across the UK.”

Population based on adults aged 16 and over from Office for National Statistics.