Record-high ATM withdrawals hit UK over weekend as people stock up on cash

Link’s data show that the average value of ATM withdrawals hit a new peak of just over £100 on Friday, the highest for any Friday since July. The following day, Saturday, the average rose to roughly £95, surpassing previous Saturday records, and Sunday’s average exceeded £90 for the first time. Despite these record averages, the total cash taken out on Saturday was £204 million, which is 11% lower than the comparable day a year earlier, a decline linked to stormy conditions.

Link’s records, which date back to 2014, suggest that some people may be following recent government guidance to keep emergency cash reserves. Prime Minister Andy Burnham highlighted the need for preparedness amid increasingly frequent unexpected events. Graham Mott, Link’s director of strategy, said the pattern likely reflects households acting on the advice to hold cash for crises.