As bank branches close and many ATMs bring in fees, getting at your cash for free is increasingly difficult in many areas. So called 'cash deserts' have sprung up in many villages and residential areas, as large stretches have no access to cash - or only ATMs that charge - often fees of around £2, even for a withdrawal of £10.
Now, convenience shops may have the answer. Around 30,000 shops across the UK now have PayPoint terminals, where customers can pay bills, drop off parcels, use energy credit vouchers, top up gas cards, electricity keys or Smart Meter cards.
Now, a growing number are also offering cash - from 1p to £50 - without a charge, and without customers even needing to make a purchase. It's particularly useful for account holders who may have less than £10 or £30 in an account, as they can get smaller amounts out in coins, a bit at a time.
PayPoint Counter Cash gives access to cash at thousands of shops across the country, as parenting blogger Men Behaving Dadly shared this week.
He said: "If you’re anything like me, you really lose your s*** when you finally find an ATM and it’s one of those that fleece you for a £1.85 fee before you can get your own money out. Somehow, I’ve only just discovered that loads and loads of convenience stores with PayPoint (they’re literally everywhere, only outnumbered by vape shops and Costa) offer something called ‘Counter Cash.’
"You just need a regular ‘Link’ debit card (so most major banks and building societies), and you can choose any amount between 1p and £50 - the little machine on the counter just asks for your PIN. It’s completely free to use for consumers, and just to prove it I went into one earlier and asked for precisely £2.76. They duly obliged.
He added: "It was nice to interact with an actual human when getting cash out to be honest."
On its website, PayPoint says: "It’s your money so we let you withdraw cash in-store to the exact amount you wish, from 1p to £50. You can also check your bank balance for free.
"No purchase is necessary, ever. The Counter Cash service is free to use, so you don’t have to spend anything to access your money.
"Counter Cash is available across the UK, so where there are limited places for you to access your money, you can depend on PayPoint."
Link is the operator for the UK’s largest ATM network.
The move comes as MPs approved a motion expressing concern over the “precipitous decline” of banking facilities over the past 40 years and stressing the impact on vulnerable people.
They called on the Government to investigate the issue and deliver changes to ensure communities have “appropriate” access to banking facilities.
Leading a Commons debate on the issue, Labour MP Ian Lavery called for a change in legislation to ensure the impact on services are considered when a bank closure is announced.
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He said: “We’re now in Government, and it’s time to take action. We’ll need to curb the power of the big banks once and for all, we need to start a review into the impact on communities of losing bank branches.
“We need to change the legislation and ensure community factors like face-to-face services are considered when a closure is announced. We need to be bold.”
The MP for Blyth and Ashington said the Government’s target of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament “might sound impressive”, but added the UK needs “10 times the amount being talked about”.
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