ATM closures leave 115,000 out of pocket

THE escalating withdrawal of ATMS and bank closures has left more than 100,000 people living in “cash deserts”, a survey suggests.

There are no cash machines in 130 postcodes, meaning 115,741 people struggle to withdraw physical money, according to research by consumer champions Which?

A further 129 areas have only one cash machine, and of these 84 charge a fee to withdraw money.

“The countless communities with shockingly low cash machine provision show that measures intended to guarantee access to cash simply don’t work – and point to mismanagement of the broken cash landscape that is leaving many people struggling.”

The Post Office has insisted its network of 11,500 branches, is “a hugely important part of the solution to this problem”. But of the 130 regions with no ATM 36 also have no post office.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said the elderly are often hit hardest by the cash machine crisis.

“The steady withdrawal of free cash points up and down the country shows we are drifting towards a cashless society, with nowhere near enough consideration being shown for those who are being left behind.”

Britain loses 600 no-fee ATMS a month and could eventually lose 13 per cent of all its machines, according to Which?

ATMS have been closing or charging for withdrawals after the fees paid by banks to cash machine operators were slashed making them less profitable to run.

Access to cash has been made worse following the closure of a third of urban bank branches in the last five years – falling from 9,803 to 6,549.

Which? is calling on the next government to legislate to make sure consumers can keep accessing and paying with cash.