Access to cash
We know many people rely on cash to get things done. And new rules from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will help protect your access to it from 18 September 2024.
What access to cash means for you
Having access to cash means it’s reasonably easy for you to deposit or withdraw cash when you need it. The regulation means banks have a duty to protect your access to cash, including after we make changes to local services, such as closing bank branches or ATMs.
Concerned about access to cash in your area?
We work with LINK to make sure access to cash is good enough wherever we have customers. LINK sets clear rules about which places need to have better access to cash, and reviews all proposals to close bank branches.
Cash services which could be introduced to fill gaps include a new free cash machine or a banking hub (where you can do your banking with different banks all in one place).
How to check access to cash in your area
You can check for places to withdraw and deposit cash using LINK's cash locator.
This tool will show you which places accept coins and which accept notes.
How to request a review of cash services in your area
- First, you can check whether LINK has already looked at your area and made a recommendation to make things better.
- Then, you can go to LINK’s website to submit a cash access request. You can do this yourself, as part of a community group or via a representative group. There are options to complete a form online, or to post a request to LINK.
What happens after you request a review of cash services?
LINK will run a cash access assessment to check whether access is sufficient. If they decide it’s not, they’ll make recommendations on what needs to happen next to improve access.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is a cash access request?
A cash access assessment is when LINK checks what cash-related services are available in an area, including:
- Whether the services are free to use for personal account holders
- Whether a reasonable mix of coins and banknotes can be deposited or withdrawn
- Whether an appropriately trained person is available to help with the services.
When will a cash access assessment happen?
A cash access assessment will usually happen whenever:
- A person or group sends a cash access request
- A bank branch or ATM is due to close.
If an assessment has already been done in the last 12 months for the same area and same reasons, a new assessment may not be done. But you can let LINK know if you think their decision was wrong.
Can you appeal the decision of a cash access assessment?
If you think LINK got it wrong, you can appeal their decision and they’ll review it.
Who is in charge of cash access requests and assessments?
All cash access assessments will be done by LINK. They’re regulated by the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator. Read more about LINK.
What do banks have to do to make sure cash access is sufficient?
The regulation means that we, along with 13 other banks, must:
- Monitor whether cash can be accessed reasonably easily in the areas we have customers
- Identify when more cash services are needed whenever we plan to change local services
- Respond to local residents, community organisations and representative groups who request an assessment of whether there are gaps in local cash access
- Provide reasonable additional cash services wherever there are significant gaps found in cash access assessments
- Keep existing facilities, including bank branches and ATMs, open until alternative ways of accessing cash are available.