SCOTTISH consumers and businesses could be hit hard by changes to ATM network LINK, research from consumer association Which? has found.
LINK plans to lower the interchange fees paid by banks to cash machine operators from 1 July, a step which could lead to a reduction in ATM provisions.
The Which? survey found Scottish businesses and their customers are heavily reliant on free-to-use cash machines, with 19% of those in rural Scottish communities reporting their nearest free-to-use cash machine is already too far away to walk to.
Andy Willox of the Federation of Small Businesses commented: “Cash is still king in the Scottish economy so it is no surprise that consumers would be less likely to use local businesses if free-to-use cash machines were to close.”
