UK ATM cash linked to GBP £500 million in store spending

Cash withdrawn from NCR Atleos ATMs in major UK supermarkets and convenience stores is linked to nearly GBP £500 million in monthly in-store spending, based on customer survey responses gathered across thousands of retail locations.

Among surveyed ATM users, 37% said they planned to spend the cash they withdrew in the same store. Applied to the GBP £1.35 billion dispensed through 5,300 NCR Atleos machines in supermarkets and convenience stores in one month, that suggests GBP £499.5 million of on-site spending.

The findings are based on more than 300,000 responses to on-screen questionnaires at 4,646 ATMs in supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol forecourts across the UK. NCR Atleos, which describes itself as the UK's largest ATM infrastructure provider, used nine questions to examine how cash access shapes shopping behaviour.

Beyond immediate spending, the research suggests ATMs influence how often shoppers visit a store and whether they return. More than half of respondents (56%) said they visit a shop more often because it has an ATM. Another 76% said they are more likely to return, and 63% said they regularly use the same machine.

The results point to a broader role for cash machines in physical retail as banking services disappear from many high streets. The survey found that 80% of users had specifically come to the location to withdraw cash, while 39% said cash withdrawal forms part of their shopping trip and 82% said having an ATM was convenient for their shopping.

Retail role

The figures add to evidence that supermarkets, convenience stores and forecourts are taking on functions once more closely associated with bank branches. As branch networks shrink, retailers with ATMs are becoming routine places for consumers to access cash during everyday journeys.

NCR Atleos said this role could expand further as more deposit-enabled machines are installed. That would make retail sites not only withdrawal points, but also places where small business owners and other customers can pay cash into the system.

Local reliance on those services was another theme in the survey. According to the research, 83% of respondents said their area would be worse off without the ATM.

"Physical retail has always been about more than the transaction at the till. An ATM is not simply a piece of equipment in the corner of a store. It is the connective tissue between consumers, retailers and locAs deposit-capable ATMs become more widely available, these locations can support not only consumers accessing cash, but business owners looking for convenient ways to deposit their takings. The retail estate is already one of the UK's most important pieces of physical infrastructure. How far that role extends into financial services will be an important shift to watch over the next few years.," said Neil Martin, Managing Director, NCR Atleos UK, Ireland, Benelux, Baltics and Nordics.

Consumer choice

Food retailers and convenience operators are likely to watch the research closely as they weigh the cost and value of maintaining in-store ATM access. For operators, the figures suggest the machines may do more than provide a customer service, particularly if they encourage repeat visits and increase the likelihood of a purchase.

Asda Money, which operates in this area, said access to cash remains relevant for its large weekly customer base, and that in-store ATMs help people combine banking and shopping in one trip.

"Customer choice is an important part of the retail experience. With more than 18 million shoppers visiting Asda each week, we want people to be able to access the services they need conveniently as part of their shop, including cash. For customers who choose or need to use cash, having an ATM on site provides a simple way to access it in a place they are already visiting. Making cash readily available across our stores helps us serve a wider range of customer needs, makes the shopping trip more convenient and gives customers greater choice in how they pay and manage their money," said Luke Ashton, Head of Operations, Gift Card and Cash Services, Asda Money.

The survey was conducted through on-screen questions presented to ATM users over a one-month period. Response totals varied by question, but the overall sample exceeded 300,000 answers across the UK retail estate.