A scheme aimed at providing communities in the UK with free-to-use ATMs has received overwhelming demand in its first month.

LINK, the UK’s largest cash machine network, launched its Community Access to Cash Delivery Fund at the beginning of October, and has revealed that more than 100 areas have applied for a new ATM, although initial funding for the scheme would only cover 50 new cash machines.

The cash machine network said requests had come from all over the country, with isolated rural communities, deprived urban areas and small towns all getting in touch about installing a new ATM in areas deprived of access to cash.

LINK CEO, John Howells, said: “It’s great that we’ve had so much interest so far. Many of the applications show there are locations around the country where there is a cash access problem.

“We’ve already visited 10 of these locations and will be working hard to listen to every community that has got in touch. We want to hear from more communities that think they have an issue. Where there is a problem, LINK will take action.”

LINK has said local communities can apply for a new cash machine through their MP, local council, or request help directly from LINK for support for free access to cash.

If a request for a free-to-use cash machine meets the criteria – which includes the distance to the nearest free ATM, availability of a Post Office, site security and that there is a suitable host location – LINK said it would fund the new ATM directly.

Share Story: