How to Plan Access as Fleets Shrink
The worldwide ATM fleet fell 2% to 2.9 million machines in 2025. Some underserved markets still added terminals, so the global figure gives little guidance for a particular town or neighbourhood. An ATM network strategy needs to look at how people use cash, where they can obtain it and which services the remaining machines provide.
Withdrawal trends differ by market
Worldwide ATM cash withdrawals fell to just under 65 billion in 2025. The global average amount per withdrawal nevertheless increased from US$196 to US$201. Those figures describe fewer withdrawals overall, with a slightly larger average amount taken out each time.
They should not be read as a uniform pattern. In a separate study covering selected jurisdictions, withdrawals per person generally stabilised in 2023 even as cashless payments grew and cash in circulation declined in most markets studied. People made an average of 21 withdrawals in emerging and developing economies, compared with 13 in advanced economies. Average withdrawal values differed too, at US$97 and US$240 respectively. These differences make local transaction data more useful than a global fleet target when reviewing a site.
Payment choice still depends on cash access
In the euro area, cash remained the most frequently used payment method in shops in 2024, although its share continued to decline. While 55% of surveyed consumers preferred cards or other cashless methods, 62% considered having the option to pay with cash important or very important. Using cash less often does not necessarily mean people are comfortable losing access to it.
Access perceptions provide another check. In the same survey, 87% said reaching an ATM or bank was fairly or very easy, down from 89% in 2022. ATMs remained the main way people obtained cash, used by more than 79% of respondents. Network plans should account for customers’ access as well as transaction totals.
Compare coverage with usable alternatives
France shows how ATM numbers and geographic access can move differently. Sites with at least one ATM fell 2.7% in 2025, but 98.6% of residents remained within a 15-minute drive of one. Banks made many changes in urban areas with nearby machines; the number of municipalities with at least one ATM stayed around 6,500.
Including retail cash points raised measured coverage to 99.8%. Some of these points are available only to customers of particular banking networks, however. Operators therefore need to check whether people affected by an ATM closure can use the alternatives nearby.
Consider the service that disappears
In the UK, designated banks and building societies must assess significant local gaps, including potential gaps, in cash services. The rules address consumers and businesses and cover withdrawals and deposits, including notes and coins. They seek free cash access for consumers with personal current accounts. If an assessment finds a significant gap, designated firms must provide an additional service promptly.
These are UK requirements. For any operator reviewing a location, the practical question is which service would disappear and who could use the proposed alternative. A nearby withdrawal machine may not replace a deposit facility. Eligibility, fees and available functions all affect whether access has been preserved.
Decide what each ATM needs to do
Automated deposits were available at 48% of ATMs worldwide at the end of 2025; more than two-thirds supported a form of cardless withdrawal. The presence of a function across the global fleet does not show that every location needs it.
Review each site’s withdrawals and deposits, the distance to usable alternatives and the customers who would lose access. Those findings should guide which machines stay and what services they offer. Once the network plan is set, the focus shifts to operating the chosen fleet.
SBS supports that operational work. KIXOperator gives teams a central view of ATM status and incidents across different manufacturers. KIXCustomer provides the application for customer transactions, including withdrawals and deposits, on supported devices
FAQ Section
Does a smaller ATM fleet always reduce access to cash?
No. The effect depends on which locations lose machines and whether customers can use suitable alternatives. In France, ATM sites declined in 2025 while measured geographic access remained broadly stable.
Why compare local data with global ATM trends?
Withdrawal frequency and value differ substantially between markets. A global decline cannot show whether a particular machine serves a continuing local need.
Why do deposit services matter in an ATM review?
A nearby withdrawal point may not replace a deposit facility. Operators need to check which transactions customers and businesses would lose.
Did the average withdrawal value rise worldwide?
According to Datos Insights, the global average rose from US$196 to US$201 in 2025. That does not mean it rose in every country.
Sources
Datos Insights, Banking & Payments Bulletin, Issue 468 (September 2026): Development Replaces Growth as ATM Decline Intensifies
https://datos-insights.com/bulletinBank for International Settlements (CPMI), And so we pay: more digital and faster, with cash still in play
https://www.bis.org/publications/202503-commentary-red-bookEuropean Central Bank, Study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE) 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2024/html/ecb.pr241219~172b929461.en.htmlBanque de France, Accès du public aux espèces: rapport 2025
https://www.banque-france.fr/system/files/2026-07/2025_Rapport_Accessibilité.pdfFinancial Conduct Authority, PS24/8: Access to cash
https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/policy-statements/ps24-8-access-cash
This text was created by AI.
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