Cash machine numbers in Sussex drop by a quarter since 2019

A quarter of cash machines in East and West Sussex have been removed since 2019, according to information obtained by the BBC. Figures from Link indicate a reduction of 365 cash machines over the past five years. Crawley experienced the most significant decrease, with 58 machines no longer available during this timeframe. A greater proportion of the machines that were removed provided fee-free cash withdrawals, as opposed to those that charged customers per transaction. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, stated that free access to cash is “absolutely vital” for older individuals. She explained this is due to many older people not managing their finances digitally. In West Sussex, the constituency of Horsham recorded the smallest decline in the region, with five cash machines removed over the last five years. Conversely, Brighton & Hove, a city, currently possesses 287 cash machines, down from 332 in 2019, marking a total reduction of 105. Ms Abrahams further commented: “The decline in ATMs is concerning, although the new regulations recently introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should protect access for the vast majority of people.” The FCA’s regulations, implemented in September, mandate that banks must assess local community needs more thoroughly before closing a branch. Additionally, these rules compel banks to verify if additional services are required before deactivating a cash machine.