A stark warning has been issued to anyone planning to use cash machines across England this Wednesday, with fears that a massive festive surge in demand could leave some ATMs completely empty.
The £370 Million Christmas Eve Cash Rush
New research from LINK, the UK's primary cash access and ATM network, forecasts that households will withdraw an astonishing almost £370 million in cash on Christmas Eve (24 December). This is expected to make it the single busiest day for cash machines in 2025.
The analysis reveals that the average withdrawal value will be around £124. With a full three working days before Christmas this year, compared to 2024 when the busiest day fell on Friday 20 December, financial experts believe ATM use will be heavily concentrated on the 24th.
Peak Times and Potential Shortages
The peak minute for frantic festive cash withdrawals is predicted to be 12:13pm on Christmas Eve. At this height, nearly 8,000 cash withdrawals are expected to take place every single minute nationwide.
This unprecedented volume is driven by people conducting last-minute gift shopping, heading out for Christmas drinks with colleagues, or withdrawing money before travelling to see family. The extended four-day Christmas break further intensifies the need for physical cash.
Graham Mott, LINK Strategy Director, commented: "Christmas is always a special time and for cash machines it is the busiest time of the year. People will be visiting ATMs to get cash for last minute shopping, going out with friends and colleagues or to make sure they have some cash in case they need to pop-out for something they have forgotten."
Payment Trends and Planning Ahead
Despite this huge cash demand, the broader trend shows that debit cards remain the most popular payment method for six out of ten shoppers. Credit cards follow as the preferred choice for 35% of consumers.
The key takeaway for the public is clear: if you require cash for the Christmas period, particularly on Wednesday 24 December, it is highly advisable to plan your withdrawal earlier in the day or earlier in the week to avoid the midday rush and the potential disappointment of finding a local cashpoint out of service.
