People made 16 trips to cash machines on average last year, according to data from ATM and cash access network Link. Some £79.5 billion was withdrawn from ATMs connected up to Link’s network in 2024, which was a 1.2% decrease compared with 2023. Across the UK, people over the age of 16 made 915 million cash withdrawals last year – 60 million fewer or a 6.1% reduction compared with 2023.
Link said this works out at around 16 trips to the ATM per person, withdrawing just under £90 each time typically. The network has seen a trend towards people visiting ATMs less often but withdrawing more cash when they do visit. Northern Ireland remains the most “cash heavy” part of the UK, with people there withdrawing £2,274 on average last year, Link said.
The second and third heaviest regions were Yorkshire and the Humber (£1,696 withdrawn last year on average) and the North East of England (£1,682). Yorkshire and the Humber was also the only region where the average amount withdrawn increased annually, rising from £1,658 in 2023.
ATM use was lowest in the South West of England, where the average customer withdrew £1,030 in 2024, followed closely behind by the South East of England, where £1,096 was withdrawn typically. By the end of 2024, there were 46,182 ATMs, which was 5% fewer than at the end of 2023, when there were 48,401, Link said.
