The number of cash machine transactions through the LINK network reached a record 211 million during December 2005, a rise of 5.3% on the previous year, while the amount of cash withdrawn was up 10 per cent at £9.1 billion.
On the 23 December alone, the network processed a record-breaking 10.8 million cash withdrawals, a rise of 15 per cent on the same day in 2004.
These figures do not include withdrawals where customers use their own banks' machines, which LINK estimates account for a further 157 million transactions and £6.8 billion in cash making December's total cash withdrawals £16 billion.
Withdrawals from surcharging ATMs during December 2005 accounted for 9.1 million or 3.8 per cent of the 223 million total transactions, down from 9.4 million in November 2005.
Graham Mott, a senior LINK spokesman said: "LINK is providing ever greater access to cash and these record figures demonstrate the value and reliability of the LINK network to UK consumers. They also show a dynamic and competitive ATM market with more cash and more withdrawals, both free and charging. This has been accomplished with the LINK switch being available 100 per cent of the time with no switch downtime whatsoever in 2005."
-ENDS-
Notes for Editors:
ADDITIONAL FACTS AND FIGURES
There was also a new record for the busiest hour 12.00- 13.00 on 23 December when 1 million transactions took place.
ATM NUMBERS
TRANSACTION VOLUMES
SIGNAGE AND GOVERNANCE
Press Enquiries:
Edwin Latter |
Graham Mott |
John Pinniger |
Information for Editors
LINK Interchange Network Ltd is the Company that provides electronic transaction management services on behalf of the UK 's largest financial institutions and other commercial organisations. The Company manages the Card Scheme and provides the technical and commercial services, including arranging settlement, which make ATM sharing possible on the significant scale now seen. The LINK ATM network is the world's busiest shared ATM network with over 55,000 cash machines deployed and over 101 million LINK-enabled cards in issue. The Company processed and settled over 2.5 billion shared transactions during 2004. It also manages transactions for the basic bank accounts that form part of the Post Office's universal banking services programme and has implemented an ATM prepay top up service on behalf of mobile phone operators. The Company is pursuing opportunities to use its proven, secure and reliable network infrastructure to support the development and implementation of wider transaction management services including the aforementioned services.