Access to Cash Research

Access to cash research

LINK is committed to maintaining free access to cash across the UK for as long as consumers need it. This includes maintaining the coverage of free-to-use ATMs in the most remote and rural locations as well as improving free access in the most deprived areas of the UK.

LINK has had a Financial Inclusion Programme in existence since 2006 which continues to be developed and is focused on improving free cash access in the most deprived and remote areas of the UK. Further details can be found on our Financial Inclusion page. LINK produces monthly Footprint and Dashboard Reports which give the public a view on the current status of the coverage of the ATM network in the UK and the latest reports can be downloaded from this page.

In addition, LINK has also commissioned a number of important reports to help understand the issues around access to cash.

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IS THE UK REALLY READY TO GO DIGITAL? A fresh look at digital exclusion

New research from LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, shows digital exclusion remains a major and stubborn problem across the country leading to painful real-world consequences across society.

Read the report

005. About Governance Alternating 2

Consumers withdrew £81bn from ATMs in 2023

Consumers withdrew £81bn from ATMs in 2023

  • The average adult made 15 trips to an ATM and withdrew £1,484 during 2023, a slight reduction on 2022.
  • Cash continues to be most popular in Northern Ireland. 

Read More

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Independent Access to Cash Review

With cash usage declining rapidly, the Independent Access to Cash Review published in 2019 called on Government, regulators and banks to act or risk leaving millions behind.

Read the report here.

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2022 Cash Census

Published by the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and funded by LINK, this report is a detailed update to the Access to Cash Review highlighting that 48% of people say a cashless society would be problematic for them. 

Read the report

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to Cash

The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to Cash

Consumer behaviour changed rapidly during COVID, and showed stark inequalities in how habits are changing in different areas of the UK. This report dives into the data of cash use during COVID. 

Report downloads

Access to Cash in Rural Communities

Improving rural consumers’ access to cash, Professor Russel Griggs OBE, 2019

UK Cash Distribution and Carbon Footprint

Analysing the carbon footprint of cash, Cash and Card Consultants, 2020

Cheque Pointers

The impact of alternative payment methods on cash, Northey Point, 2021

Monthly Reports

Annual Reports

Consumer Council Annual Reports

LINK Presentation October 2022 – ATMIA - Oct 2022

RSA Report - The Cash Census - March 2022

Preserving Access to Cash

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