Places with biggest and smallest falls in ATM withdrawals revealed
Glasgow Central recorded the third biggest decline, at 82%.
The extent to which cash machine withdrawals have plunged during the coronavirus crisis has varied widely across the UK, analysis by ATM network Link reveals.
On average, there was a 60% annual fall in the volume of ATM withdrawals in April, with some rural areas as well as city centres recording the biggest drop-offs.
Link compared ATM withdrawals in April 2020 with April 2019 across parliamentary constituencies.
It found that the Cities of London and Westminster saw the biggest fall, with withdrawals shrinking by 91%.
Glasgow Central recorded the next biggest decline, at 82%.
Westmorland and Lonsdale, which covers parts of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, was also in the top five places with the biggest declines in cash withdrawals, at 81%.
The smallest declines were in Liverpool Walton and Birmingham Hodge Hill, which both saw 43% falls in withdrawals.
Link added that, more recently, ATM withdrawal levels have recovered to some extent compared with April, and are now down generally across the UK by around 45% compared with a year ago.
Link head of financial inclusion Nick Quin said: Unsurprisingly, cash use fell during the lockdown; however, we shouldn't rush to the conclusion that all roads lead to a cashless UK.
Some of the places where cash use fell the quickest aren't all city centres or major transport hubs - some are rural, with older populations, or rely on tourism.
The areas where people have continued to use cash more have been those most deprived communities.
We know from our own research that coronavirus will affect the future use of cash. However, what's clear is that every individual community is different. Digital payments do not work for all consumers at all times and it is the most vulnerable that are often most reliant on cash.
Link believes that, to safeguard free access to cash in the longer term, legislation is needed and we welcomed the Chancellor's Budget commitment to legislate on this issue. However, with cash usage rapidly falling during Covid-19, it is now more important, and urgent, than ever.''
Recent research from Link found that more consumers are turning to contactless and digital payments during the coronavirus crisis, with nearly three-quarters (72%) suggesting Covid-19 will affect their future use of cash.
Here are the top five constituencies with the biggest annual decline in cash withdrawals in April, according to Link:
- Cities of London and Westminster - 91%
- Glasgow Central - 82%
=3. Liverpool Riverside - 81%
=3. Holborn and St Pancras - 81%
=3. Westmorland and Lonsdale - 81%
And here are the constituencies with the smallest reductions in cash withdrawals:
=1. Liverpool Walton - 43%
=1. Birmingham Hodge Hill - 43%
- Bradford South - 44%
=4. Warley (West Midlands) - 45%
=4. Bradford East - 45%