The UK cash machine network LINK is worried about ATMs disappearing from the country’s streets. Now it has announced it will pay to protect free access to cash in every high street in the UK.
LINK stated that it will step in to fund any high street’s access threatened by the potential loss of their ATMs or Post Offices.
Moreover, LINK announced that it will directly commission free-to-use ATMs in communities with poor access to cash. Over the coming months it will leverage the support of local MPs and councils to install ATMs in Battle, East Sussex, Bungay, Suffolk, Hill Top in Nuneaton, Tywyn in Wales, and Durness in Scotland. The locations will form a restricted trial that will run through 2020.
John Howells, CEO of LINK, said, “LINK is determined to defend free access to cash across the UK in the face of very rapidly declining cash use. Today’s action will protect consumers whilst much needed industry reforms to move to a more sustainable utility infrastructure take place.”
The news comes as several countries and companies are pushing to create cashless societies. For instance, the Japanese mobile wallet startup Kyash recently raised $14m in its Series B round with the goal of creating a cashless society.
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