News

UK consumers will be able to donate to charities through ATMs

May 22, 2011

Consumers now can make charitable donations through United Kingdom ATMs, according to an agreement reached between the ATM industry and government officials.

LINK, which represents U.K. ATM operators, and government officials agreed to launch the program in 2012. There are 63,000 ATMs in the United Kingdom and 100-million LINK-enabled cards that will allow consumers to donate to their favorite charity through the machines.

Owners of the ATMs will decide which particular charities or charity their machines will support.

Last December, Francis Maude, a cabinet officer minister, proposed that the British government allow consumers to donate to charities through ATMs.

"I am delighted by the support of LINK's member banks, building societies and ATM operators for enabling charity donations at cash machines," Maude said. "This will make charity giving quicker and easier for so many people as they can incorporate giving into a regular routine."

Some of LINK's member banks and ATM networks are Bank Machine, Barclays, Citi, American Express Europe, Lloyds TSB and Cashbox.