• UK has more cash machines and we make more withdrawals than anywhere else in Europe
• Vast majority of cash obtained from free-to-use cash machines - 97 per cent by cash value and 95.5 per cent by volume
• 86 withdrawals every second from UK’s 58,000 cash machines in 2005

The Way We Pay: UK Cash and Cash Machines a new report launched today [14 September 2006] by APACS, the UK payments association, shows that the number of UK cash machines has more than doubled in the past six years (from 27,379 in 1999 to 58,286 in 2005). It also reveals that Britons make the largest number of cash machine withdrawals of any country in the EU, some 2.7 billion transactions in 2005, or more than 42 per person.

The report clearly shows that we know which machines charge so we mostly use the free machines which are provided by banks and building societies and which don’t charge even if we are not their customer.

New figures show that of the 33.8 million adults who regularly use cash machines the vast majority of their withdrawals - 97 per cent by value and 95.5 per cent by volume are through these machines.

Sandra Quinn APACS spokesperson says:
“The fact is we get an exceptional level of service in the UK. Not only do we expect cash for free from our own bank’s cash machines - which isn’t always the case elsewhere in the world - but we get to use their competitors’ machines for free as well.

“Access to cash machines in the UK has mushroomed over the past 6 years. And whilst bank and building society machines have contributed to this massive growth - and have continued to grow - the key driver has been the entrance of independent, typically non-banking providers who now supply over 25,000 of the UK’s 58,000 cash machines in places we have never seen them before.

Of course, as you’d expect from profit-making businesses, and because cash machines cost money to place, maintain and keep secure, they levy a charge at many of their machines.  But the key for us as consumers is that we know when we are paying for that convenience so we can make a choice.  Our latest figures confirm that we know exactly which machines charge and vote with our feet.”

The report goes on to reveal that more cash withdrawals were made in the UK during 2005 than anywhere else in Europe*– 2.7 billion, an increase of 6.7 per cent on 2004 or an average of 86 withdrawals for every second throughout the year.  This amounts to a record £172 billion withdrawn from UK cash machines during 2005, or £5,455 per second. Based on the number of cash machines by surface area, the UK has the highest density of cash machines of the large EU member states**.

In addition to cash withdrawal, balance enquiries and PIN change, most bank and building society cash machines now offer a range of routine banking services.  These might include enabling customers to make account transfers, pay bills, top up mobile phones, order statements or cheque books and obtain mini statements.

Sandra Quinn continues:
“Over the next decade we’ll be continuing to use cards more and cash less, especially for lower-value purchases.  However, there’s still absolutely no sign of us becoming a ‘cashless society’ and whilst this is the case the future of the cash machine remains rosy.”

By 2015 APACS expects cash machines to provide more than four-fifths of our cash requirements as cheques and passbook use continues to shrink.  Some 40 million people are forecast to be regular cash machines users by then, making around 3.1 billion withdrawals worth £245 billion.

- ENDS -

* The next closest was Germany (2.4 billion or 29.1 per person per year) followed by France (1.26 billion or 20.3 per person per year).

** The source of EU comparisons is the European Central Bank Blue Book Addendum, March 2006.

For further information contact the APACS Cards Information Office:

T: 0870 420 3208 E: apacs@fourcommunications.com

APACS is the UK payments association. It provides the forum for the UK's financial institutions to come together on non-competitive issues, to develop banking systems for the future and to provide innovation and developments in payments. It is also the banking industry voice on payments issues such as plastic cards, payment fraud, cheques, electronic payments and cash and is the banking organisation coordinating chip and PIN roll-out.