The Newshound

Britons pull record sums from cash machines after Labour's 'Be Ready' campaign tells households to stockpile for a crisis

Link, which runs the national ATM network, said £205m was withdrawn on the day the guidance was published — 3% more than the same day last year.
Link, which runs the national ATM network, said £205m was withdrawn on the day the guidance was published — 3% more than the same day last year.

Friday's average ATM withdrawal reached £106.20 — a figure surpassed only on Christmas Eve — after Link data showed last week marked the first time the weekly average exceeded £100 outside the Christmas period. Saturday's £95 average and Sunday's figure of more than £90 also broke all-time records for those respective days in Link's data going back to 2014.

Link director Graham Mott said it 'seems likely that at least some people chose to take the Government's advice and take out some extra cash to be ready for some sort of emergency'.

The 'Be Ready' checklist calls for households to keep nine litres of water per person alongside tinned food, a wind-up radio, torches, blankets, a power bank and copies of key documents.

Many Britons on tight budgets say the stockpiling guidance is simply beyond their means, with one Reddit user posting 'With what money? I'm so money-tight that I can't.'

MoreThe IndependentCash withdrawals hit Christmas levels amidHuffPost UK'With What Money?': Britons Respond To Government Stockpiling AdviceThe IndependentBanks see record cash withdrawals after government stockpiling adviceGB NewsBritons scramble to withdraw cash from ATMs after Labour issues 'Be ready' emergency guidanceEvening StandardAverage ATM withdrawal values jumped to record levels over weekend, says LinkEvening StandardATM network Link reveals busiest day for cash machine withdrawals in 2025pressreader.comAverage ATM withdrawal­s hit new highs - PressReader
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