Anger as Link boss says 300 ATMs face axe

UP to 300 free ATMs face the chop as the wave of bank closures continues.

The threat to cash machines across Scotland was confirmed by Link chairman Sir Mark Boleat, who blamed it on people using less cash.

Sir Mark sparked outrage yesterday as he told MSPs the cuts were in response to public demand.

The network, which manages the majority of cash machines in the UK, plans to cut its fees to high street operators for providing the free access to cash.

MSPs fear it will lead to more outlets charging – cutting off communities as they lose their local bank.

Sir Mark told Holyrood’s economy committee that more than 3,000 ATMs in the UK could go, one in ten of them north of the Border.

He added: ‘What’s happening is a response to what the public is doing. People are using “cash-less”. The nationwide figures show the use of ATMs is down 5 per cent from a year ago.

‘If the public are taking out cash from machines less and less, obviously the number of ATMs will fall.’

Scottish Labour MP Ged Killen said: ‘The most vulnerable will be at greatest risk of financial exclusion. Link took the decision to cut the funding and it is clear their decision is the major threat, not a change in public habits.’