STRATEGIC PARTNERS
The UK's ATM network toted up more than 183 million cash withdrawals in October — translating to a rate of 4,000 dispensing transactions per minute for the month.
November 12, 2015
Link, the U.K. ATM network, announced this week that it saw a record number of cash machine withdrawals during the month of October.
According to a press release, the Link network carried a volume of 183 million ATM withdrawals for the month with a total value of approximately 11.2 billion pounds ($17.1 billion).
Link said that this quantity of withdrawals — which averages out to a rate of more than 4,000 per minute — exceeds that of any other month since the cash machine first appeared on U.K. high streets in June 1967.
ATM activity in October was "undoubtedly swelled by rugby fans packing out stadiums and pubs for the Rugby World Cup," Link said.
The new record follows an announcement in July that the number of ATMs in the UK passed 70,000 for the first time.
"The record number of cash machine withdrawals in one month, coupled with the growing number of cash machines, reflects the essential role cash continues to play in the U.K.," Link Chief Executive John Howells said in the release.
"Despite increases in payments made by noncash methods, such as contactless cards and mobile phones, cash remains an important part of our everyday lives. As such, Link is committed to making sure everybody has safe, reliable and easy access to their cash."
