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Poor and elderly Brits hardest hit by ATM closures, watchdog group says

October 5, 2018

The consumer watchdog group Which is warning that the U.K.'s most vulnerable populations — the lower income and the elderly — will bear the brunt of the closure of bank branches and ATMs across the nation.

Research by the consumer group indicates that 78 percent of consumers in the lowest income groups rely on cash and use it two to three times per week. Just over one-quarter (26 percent) never use cards for payment.

Additionally, Which found that 80 percent of those age 65 and older in the U.K. use cash at least two to three times per week. The watchdog group said that this demographic is "most at risk of social exclusion when bank branches and ATMs disappear."

These disappearances are becoming an increasing concern, as ATMs across the U.K. are currently going offline at the rate of 250 per month, Which said.