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Cash withdrawn in the UK reached £1.53 billion in the week to Nov. 2, £16 million more than in the same week a year earlier, Link figures show. Link says average withdrawals are approaching £110, against a typical £90, as the government urges households to prepare for emergencies. The figures do not establish that the rise is solely due to the campaign.
People in the UK withdrew £1.53 billion from cash machines in the week to Nov. 2, £16 million more than in the same period last year, according to figures from Link, as the government urged households to prepare for emergencies. Link’s director of strategy said average withdrawals were approaching £110, compared with a typical amount of about £90.
The week’s total came despite 1.5 million fewer ATM transactions than in the comparable week a year earlier, the report said. That means the higher amount withdrawn coincided with fewer transactions; the figures provided do not explain why the weekly total rose or establish that government advice caused the change.
Graham Mott, Link’s director of strategy, said the network was seeing people take out “an extra bit of cash” when visiting an ATM. He said withdrawals were averaging close to £110. The typical withdrawal is about £90, according to the report.
The government’s “Be Ready” campaign advises each household to keep three days’ essentials for emergencies such as war, cyberattacks or natural disasters. The report says ministers’ advice also includes having notes and coins available in case electronic payment systems or cash machines are disrupted. It does not give a separate estimate of how much of the recent cash activity is linked to that guidance.
Cash as an Emergency Backup
Cash can provide a way to pay for necessities if card networks, online banking or power-dependent payment equipment become unavailable. The reported increase in the weekly withdrawal total comes as officials encourage people to plan for disruptions, making access to notes and coins part of household preparedness.
However, the figures describe money taken out, not how much cash households are keeping, whether it is being spent or saved, or how many people have changed their habits. The reported £16 million year-on-year difference should not be read as proof of a widespread rush or of a specific cause.
The trend also sits alongside a longer decline in ATM use. That contrast matters: cash remains a practical fallback for some people even as day-to-day payments increasingly move to cards and phones. Link’s figures offer a snapshot of withdrawals, not a measure of the resilience of the wider payment system.
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A Short-Term Rise Amid Declining Use
ATM use has fallen over the past decade, according to figures cited in the report. The number of ATM transactions was 1.3 billion last year, down from 3.2 billion a decade earlier. The number of machines also fell, from more than 70,000 to about 43,000, as banks closed branches and customers shifted towards contactless cards and smartphone payments.
Cash nevertheless remains in circulation and in use. The report says £76 billion was withdrawn in 832 million transactions last year. A Link survey cited in the article found that 61% of respondents had used an ATM in the previous fortnight, with older people and rural residents among the heaviest users.
The government preparedness campaign was issued last month. The report also describes increased demand for some emergency supplies, including bottled water, toilet paper and wind-up radios, and says Ocado temporarily ran out of some tinned soups. Those examples indicate reported interest in supplies, but they do not quantify household preparedness across the country.
“We’re definitely seeing more people take out an extra bit of cash when they do visit an ATM, with averages approaching £110.”
— Graham Mott, Link’s director of strategy
What the Withdrawal Figures Cannot Show
The reported figures do not show how much of the increase was caused by the “Be Ready” campaign, rather than other factors such as timing, individual budgeting or ordinary variation in cash demand. Link’s account describes a change in average withdrawal size, but the source provides no detailed daily series, regional data or breakdown by household type.
It is also unclear how much of the cash withdrawn is being retained for emergencies rather than used for everyday purchases. The figures do not indicate whether cash machines or payment networks have experienced disruption, or whether households are facing difficulty accessing cash. The available report does not specify what level of cash, if any, the government recommends keeping at home.
The £1.53 billion total covers one week, while the year-on-year comparison covers the corresponding period last year. It should not be treated as evidence of a sustained trend without further weeks of data.
Further Data Will Test the Trend
Further Link figures will show whether withdrawals remain elevated beyond the week to Nov. 2 and whether the reported average near £110 persists. Comparisons across later weeks would help distinguish a short-lived response from a longer change in cash use, though the figures alone may not identify the cause.
The government’s “Be Ready” advice remains the immediate policy context. The source material does not announce a new deadline, additional cash guidance or a planned change to the campaign. Households’ actual uptake of the advice, and the preparedness of cash and electronic payment systems for a major disruption, remain unreported.
Key Questions
How much cash was withdrawn in the week to Nov. 2?
£1.53 billion, according to figures from Link, the network connecting the UK’s cash machines.
How does that compare with the same period last year?
The total was £16 million higher than in the same period a year earlier, while the report says there were 1.5 million fewer transactions. The figures do not explain the cause of the difference.
What is the government advising households to do?
The “Be Ready” campaign advises households to keep three days’ essentials for emergencies. The report says ministers also urge people to have notes and coins available in case electronic payments or cash machines fail.
Does the data prove people are withdrawing cash because of the campaign?
No. Link reported larger average withdrawals and a higher weekly total, but the figures do not establish that the campaign caused the change or show how much cash people are keeping.
Source: thisismoney.co.uk
