By Sinéad Kelly
Recent figures from ATM and cash access network Link showcase that Northern Ireland is the most ‘cash heavy’ region in the UK, as Northern Ireland consumers withdrew an average of £2,249 last year.
Link’s research highlights that the average adult typically visits a cash machine 15 times a year and withdraws £90. Scotland was the second highest region with a total of £1,550, and the North-West ranked the third highest with £1,529.
It was also revealed that “only half of adults (48%) carry a physical purse or wallet with them on a daily basis, with 51% saying they have used cash in the last week.
Manager of Chocoloons Toys Coleraine described how he was shocked at these results, stating how for the shop “customer percentages are 37% cash and 63% card; however, it makes no difference to me the bank charges me for cash entries or card entries… I am very surprised at those figures, as it isn’t coming across that way in shop takings, it’s particularly gotten more card-focused since Covid and hasn’t gone the other way.”
In addition, one staff member from local Coleraine charity shop Community Rescue Service said “I am pleased to hear that Northern Ireland is using cash more, I am a cash over card user… In this shop, it varies day to day. For example, today customers have mainly used card where’s yesterday it was mostly cash, I would definitely prefer customers to use cash.”
Overall, Graham Mott, Director of Strategy for LINK summarises how “Digital payments are increasingly popular, and our data shows that millions are comfortable and happy to leave their home relying on their digital wallet on their smartwatch or smartphone. Even though usage is falling in every part of the UK, cash remains resilient and essential to millions of people. LINK’s job is to ensure that we continue to have excellent access to cash on every high street across the UK.”
Student journalist UUC
- Sinéad Kelly
