Link survey finds 54% of UK shoppers urged to pay cash by businesses

The September survey commissioned by ATM network Link reveals more than half of shoppers were asked to pay with cash, and three‑quarters complied.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:55:21 GMT

According to a survey commissioned by ATM and cash‑access network Link, 54% of people in the UK said they had been encouraged by a business to pay in cash during September, the Standard reported.

What happened

The research asked respondents whether, in the eight weeks prior to September, they visited a venue that either displayed a sign accepting cash or staff directly asked if they could pay with cash. Overall, 54% said they had experienced such encouragement. Among those asked, 75% completed the purchase using coins or banknotes.

What the reports add

The Standard noted that people in Northern Ireland were especially likely to be encouraged (69%) and to pay in cash when asked (88%).
People in Scotland and Wales also showed high compliance, with 82% and 78% respectively paying in cash after encouragement.
The Independent reported that the encouragement could appear as a notice stating the business "accepts or prefers cash".
Both outlets said YouGov surveyed more than 2,100 people across the UK between 10 and 11 September for the research.
The Independent added context from a separate “keeping choice alive” report: a survey of over 1,100 SMEs found fraud prevention, security concerns and lack of customer demand as the biggest drivers toward going cashless.
The same report projected that by 2035 cash will account for just 4% of UK payments, roughly two billion transactions.
UK Finance’s Payment Markets Report was quoted saying the market will continue growing while becoming more digital.

What was said

“These results show cash remains a practical choice for millions and that many small businesses are actively encouraging its use, making a resilient ATM network more important than ever,” Graham Mott, director of strategy, Link, told the Standard.

“It’s also fascinating to see when prompted, most people are happy to pay with cash and still choose it for certain retailers and services,” he added, as quoted by both the Standard and the Independent.

How it came about

The survey was commissioned by Link to gauge consumer attitudes toward cash amid a broader shift toward digital payments. It was part of Link’s “keeping choice alive” initiative, which also surveyed more than 1,100 small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises about the drivers behind cashless adoption.

Key facts

54% of UK shoppers said they were encouraged to pay in cash in September (standard.co.uk)
75% of those asked to pay with cash completed the purchase using cash (standard.co.uk)
In Northern Ireland, 69% reported being encouraged to pay cash and 88% of those complied (standard.co.uk)