Today,
some 40% of ATMs, i.e. 20 000 out of a total
of 54 000 ATMs, are fee-charging in the United
Kingdom and that percentage could reach 50%
in the near future.
Those figures were announced during recent hearings
by a Treasury Select Committee which is currently
looking into this question. MPs on the committee
heard representatives of the main British banks
(Royal Bank of Scotland, HBoS, Barclays…) and
independent operators (Cardpoint, Moneybox,
Bank Machine, TRM). The situation has changed
rapidly in recent years; whereas the network
was entirely free four years ago, now four out
of ten ATMs charge a fee ranging from £1.50
(2,17) to £1.75 (2,54 euros) per transaction.
Some financial institutions have a far higher
percentage of fee-paying ATMs, notably the Post
Office: 2 000 out of its 2 500 ATMs are fee-paying.
Charging practices also vary, and certain banks
such as Alliance & Leicester still offer
a free cash withdrawal service to their customers,
while charging other users. According to a survey
carried out in December 2004 by Nationwide,
providers charge customers 140 million pounds
(203 million euros) a year to use their cash
machines, i.e. an increase of 133% in one year.
