UK regions could become 'cash deserts' as free ATMs disappear, industry body warns

Worst-hit areas set to be rural south-west England, Scotland, and urban south-east England outside London, according to the ATM Industry Association. The same regions have already seen the most bank closures in recent years.

The Treasury Select Committee would ‘almost certainly’ have to step in if large numbers of free cash machines are removed (Rex)

Parts of the UK risk becoming “cash deserts” if a row over ATM fees is not resolved, an industry body warned on Friday.

Members of Link, the UK's cash machine network, met on Thursday in an attempt to resolve the dispute between some banks and independent cash machine providers.

No solution was found but members, which include all of the major high street banks, said a committee would be set up working to “explore a way forward for the sustainability of the Link scheme”.

Fears have been raised that more cash machines could start charging or disappear if current arrangements for sharing the cost of operating the network break down.

On Friday, the ATM Industry Association – a trade body – warned there were risks that “cash deserts” could be created. Its members, which operate cash machines across the country said up to 35 per cent of its machines would have to charge or be removed if charges were lowered.

Banks currently pay cash machine providers around 25p per transaction but some say the charges are too high and have demanded a reduction.

Data from the ATMIA found that the worst-hit regions are set to be rural south-west England, Scotland, and urban south-east England outside London, where respectively 44 per cent, 40 per cent and 33 per cent of independent, free cash machines would be at risk.

A study in January by consumer group Which? found these areas have already suffered the most bank branch closures. Which? said at the time that a total of 1,000 branches had closed across the country over the past two years.

Ron Delnevo, executive director for Europe at the ATMIA said: "With the question remaining over whether some banks will be willing to pay the true cost of providing ATMs, we still risk thousands of these cash points disappearing from the most vulnerable communities.”

If any banks pull out of Link or charges are increased, the Payment Systems Regulator – the watchdog for the £75 trillion payment systems industry in the UK – could step in.

Peter McNamara, the chief executive of ATM provider NoteMachine said his company was “working very closely with banks to ensure that 98 per cent of transactions remain free at the point of usage”.

The Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, speaking on Thursday, welcomed the fact that the dispute was now being examined but said: “Widespread charging would be of considerable concern, particularly in rural areas and poorer urban neighbourhoods.

“Link now have an opportunity to sort it out. If they don’t, the Treasury Committee will almost certainly need to investigate.”