Four in Ten Britons Expect to Use More Cash After the Budget

In the lead up to and immediately after the Autumn Budget, NCR Atleos, the UK’s largest ATM operator and a leading provider of shared banking services, anonymously surveyed the public through an On Screen Questionnaire at 11,998 ATMs nationwide. The findings show the Autumn Budget has already changed how people plan to manage their money. Four in ten Britons now expect to use more cash next year (41%) in response to the changes announced, despite the majority (62%) saying they were not worried before the Budget.

The findings are drawn from two nationwide on-screen questionnaires completed by more than 520,000 ATM users, providing a real-time snapshot of public sentiment at the point people accessed cash.

Ahead of the Budget, 38% of respondents said they were worried it would hit their finances. Concern was highest in Northern Ireland (41%), followed by Wales (39%), compared with 37% in both England and Scotland. However, post-Budget data points to a more pronounced behavioural shift. Across the UK, 41% of respondents now say they plan to use more cash next year. This rises to 46% in Northern Ireland, 43% in Scotland and 42% in Wales, compared with 40% in England.

Neil Martin, Area Managing Director for the UK at NCR Atleos, said: “The message from this data is unambiguous. Cash remains a trusted and practical way for households to manage their money, particularly when costs are under pressure. A sizable proportion of people now expect to use it more, not less, as they respond to the changes announced in the Budget. That creates a clear responsibility for the industry to ensure the infrastructure is in place to meet that demand, so access to cash remains reliable and convenient in the communities that depend on it.”

The intention to rely more heavily on cash is most pronounced in smaller towns and regional communities. Places such as Ellington in North East England and Nairn in Scotland top the list, with 65% of respondents in each saying they expect to increase their cash use. Several towns in Wales and the South West of England also feature prominently.

By contrast, the areas least likely to expect higher cash use are concentrated in England, particularly London and the South East, which account for half of the 30 lowest-ranking towns. In places such as Kirkstall, Colliers Wood and Radcliffe-on-Trent, fewer than one in four respondents say they plan to use more cash next year.

Martin added: “In parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and the North of England, the shift towards cash is much stronger than in London and the South East. That reflects the very different cost pressures households face across the UK, and the role cash still plays as a practical budgeting tool in many communities. What is clear is that, with more people planning to use cash next year, the focus has to be on making sure the infrastructure is there to support them. Cash use may be changing, but it is far from disappearing. The challenge now is ensuring access remains reliable, convenient and sustainable for the communities that continue to depend on it.”

Looking ahead, NCR Atleos plans to continue to expand cash services in partnership with banks and retailers by focusing on innovations that combine reliability with affordability. By complementing hubs with deposit-capable and coin-accepting ATMs, the model can be sustained and scaled, ensuring that communities and businesses across the UK continue to have convenient, reliable access to cash as part of a broader and more resilient payment system.