Scots losing free ATMs at rate of nearly four per week in cash access crisis
Scots are losing free ATMs at a rate of nearly four per week amid a mounting cash access crisis, data shows.
Figures from LINK, the UK's cash machine network, show free-to-use ATMs in Scotland have declined by about 5100 in 2018 to around 3500 today.
That means there's about one free cash machine for every 1600 Scottish adults.
Campaigners say the decline of bank branches along with ATMs is a 'disaster' for remote and rural communities and vulnerable groups who depend on cash.
Ron Delnevo, of the Payment Choice Alliance, said: 'It's a bit scary for Scotland, because once you get out of the big cities, there's not a lot left. It's pathetic.'
He used the example of Edzell, near Brechin, which lost its only bank branch, a Bank of Scotland site, in 2016.
Delnevo said: 'There's no ATM in Edzell, so if you want cash from an ATM you have to go as far as Brechin. That's a 12-mile round trip.
"These people have suffered, in the last ten years, a massive deterioration in the service.
"If you go all around Scotland, it's the same thing when you find small places.
"In the UK, I think Scotland is worst affected, because taking into account population, we've got a massive geographic area and there are many isolated communities.
"They've been badly let down by the banks."
The relentless pace of bank branch closures - particularly across remote and rural areas - has coincided with the rise in online banking.
The Covid pandemic also saw a drive by firms towards cashless payments.
But LINK's own research shows cash remains the most trusted payment method, with 76 per cent of British consumers saying it's important to have the option to pay with hard currency.
Douglas Ross, Tory MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: 'The rapid decline of free-to-use cash machines is deeply worrying, particularly for older Scots and vulnerable people who rely on cash to manage their day-to-day lives.
'Access to cash isn't a luxury, it's a necessity, especially in rural areas and for supporting local businesses that still depend on cash payments.
'We need a clear strategy to safeguard the remaining cash machines across Scotland before it's too late.'
It comes as Scottish Labour has today launched a new consultation to tackle 'scandal of financial exclusion' including issues with cash access to help tackle poverty.
The party's finance spokesman Michael Marra said: 'Low-income families are often reliant on cash, and the loss of bank branches and ATMs has hit them hardest.'
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Some of the most vulnerable groups in the country often rely on cash, including people with disabilities, older people and those in abusive relationships who might depend on cash as an escape route from controlling partners.
UK-wide, free cash machines hit a peak of around 55,000 in 2018 but have since plummeted to around 35,000, latest data shows - a drop of more than a third.
Insiders say the UK total could eventually "bottom out" at around 15,000.
Delnevo added: "What would that mean for Scotland? It would certainly be a dramatic loss. It might mean Scotland is left with fewer than 1500 ATMs.
"If it goes down to that level, you're going to have miles and miles without any ATM coverage."
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