Huge drop in ATM cash withdrawals in Glasgow
Link has been comparing stats to pre-pandemic levels
The use of cash machines to withdraw money has fallen sharply in several parts of Glasgow during the Covid-19 crisis, according to new stats from the ATM network operator Link.
It has compared usage between August 2019 and August this year - and found that across the UK £100 million less is being taken out by people in the country.
Glasgow Central is at number 5 in a top ten list of constituencies with the biggest drops since the pandemic hit includes four in the capital.
Nick Quin, head of financial inclusion, Link, said: “People are choosing new ways to pay for things, and Covid has turbocharged the switch to digital.
“When we conducted similar analysis this time last year, we had an incomplete picture because before the vaccine rollout people generally were staying local, working from home and many leisure locations were still temporarily closed.
“ATM use in some city centres had declined by as much as 80% overnight (in Westminster, Glasgow and Edinburgh in March 2020).
“Now that life is returning to normal, people are still visiting ATMs much less often and taking out more each time.
“Crucially, even though we’re withdrawing almost £100 million less per day, millions still rely on cash, especially in the most deprived areas of the country. It is important we continue to protect access to cash across the country.”
How are the UK's cash habits changing?
Today's stats show adults in the UK now visit ATMs fewer than twice a month on average - while it was three times a month before the pandemic.
However, customers now take out around an extra £10 during each visit though - with an average of just under £80.
The total value of Link ATM withdrawals is currently around £1.6 billion a week, compared with around £2.2 billion in 2019.
The network said this year, it has heard from over 400 communities wanting better cash access.
Link said it is encouraging people to speak up if they find it difficult to access cash free of charge.
Which areas are seeing the fastest move away from cash?
The top 10 constituency areas with the biggest percentage declines in the volume of cash withdrawals, comparing August 2019 with August 2021:
- Edinburgh East, 63%
=2. Cities of London and Westminster, 60%
=2. Edinburgh North and Leith, 60%
- Holborn and St Pancras, 58%
=5. Edinburgh South, 56%
=5. Glasgow Central, 56%
=5. Edinburgh West, 56%
- Crawley, 55%
- Belfast South, 54%
- Bristol West, 53%