Responding to the rapid and unprecedented decline in cash usage by UK consumers, LINK, the country’s main cash machine network, has announced that funding will be made available to protect free access to cash for every high street in the UK.

From today, should a high street be threatened with the loss of an ATM or Post Office, LINK will step in to ensure that an ATM is made available and paid for with funding from all the UK’s main banks and building societies.

In March, the independent Access to Cash Review said the UK is not ready to go cashless and set out a series of measures necessary to ensure no one is left behind as the UK moves towards an increasingly cashless society.

LINK’s announcement today will ensure that, as the UK continues to evolve from a high-cash economy to one where most payments are made digitally, ATMs – which remain a vital part of the UK’s cash infrastructure – are protected.

LINK has also announced that, for the first time, it will directly commission free-to-use ATMs in communities with poor access to cash. Over the coming months, and with the support of local MPs and councils, ATMs will be installed in Battle, East Sussex, Bungay, Suffolk, Hill Top in Nuneaton, Tywyn in Wales, and Durness in Scotland. The locations will form a restricted trial that will run through 2020.

LINK CEO John Howells said: “LINK is determined to defend free access to cash across the UK in the face of very rapidly declining cash use. Today’s action will protect consumers whilst much needed industry reforms to move to a more sustainable utility infrastructure take place.”

Ian Bradbury, CTO for Financial Services, Fujitsu UK “The move for more free ATMs highlights the important role cash still plays in the financial life of Brits across the country. Although we are moving towards a cashless society, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the 2.2 million people in the UK who are still reliant on cash. Reduced access can have unpredictable consequences for consumers as well as a number of industries; particularly in hospitality and retail, in which cash is still heavily used.

“Maintaining an ATM estate can be challenging as cash replenishment and machine maintenance involves high recurring costs but we must prioritise consumers’ needs by ensuring access to cash is free and easy. By investing in technology, we can help lower the costs of running ATMs by saving power and energy, and streamlining various processes. For example, by using emerging technologies and advanced computing techniques banks can optimise cash management and distribution, which could significantly reduce the cost of cash handling and create a more efficient ATM network.

“As more and more business is done online, the usage of local branches has been in decline for some time, and this decline is predicted to continue. This has made it uneconomic for banks and building societies to maintain a physical presence with branches in many more rural locations. It is therefore good to see that these organisations are jointly funding the placement of these free-to-use ATMs to continue to give support to local communities, recognising a commitment to a broader social purpose and ongoing community support.”