For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
‘Super-ATMs’ are set to be launched across the UK to allow users to make deposits with multiple banks.
The first machine is up and running in Atherstone in Warwickshire and further ATMs will also be trialled, according to Cash Access UK, an organisation set up to help plug gaps in cash access.
The machines will offer access to cash services such as withdrawals and balance inquiries. They will also enable free cash deposits to customers of Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank.
More banks are expected to be added soon, according to Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company owned and funded by major banks.
The machines are connected to the Link ATM network and have been set up in partnership with ATM providers NCR Atleos and NoteMachine.
Deposit machines are among the solutions being trialled by Cash Access UK to improve deposit services.
Cash Access UK chief executive Gareth Oakley said: “Access to deposit-taking ATMs is vital for cash-reliant UK consumers struggling to access basic banking services and it’s just as important that businesses who accept cash can bank it too.”
National chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Martin McTague said: “The decline of the bank branch network has left many without vital services, in particular the ability for small business owners to deposit takings for the day safely without shutting the small business early or travelling for miles.
“The ability to deposit in a super-ATM that works for multiple banks is an important innovation and could make a real difference alongside the accelerated rollout of banking hubs and maintenance of Post Office counters.”
It comes as the number of cash withdrawals from Nationwide Building Society’s network of ATMs climbed for the second year in a row, following more than a decade of declines.
Some 31.36 million cash withdrawals were made from its network of more than 1,200 ATMs last year – up from 30.21 million in 2022 – Nationwide said.
It marked the second annual increase in a row, with 2022 having seen the first rise in cash withdrawals for 13 years, according to the Society’s data.
Before 2022, cash withdrawal volumes from Nationwide ATMs had been declining. Withdrawals dipped sharply around the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
