Are cash machines free to use?

Most cash machine withdrawals in the UK are free. Of all cash withdrawals made in the UK, 98% are carried out at free to use ATMs, according to the Payment Systems Regulator, which oversees LINK, the ATM network, to make sure people and businesses have access to cash across the UK¹. Using a cash machine is usually free, but the signs on the machine itself set out whether a fee applies, so it is worth reading them before a withdrawal³.

The machines that do charge are a minority, and the fee is shown on screen before the withdrawal goes through, so you can cancel. Most UK ATMs let you take cash out with cards that use any of several different payment networks, most commonly LINK, Visa and Mastercard⁴. You can use any cash machine in the UK to withdraw cash and use the services available, although these may not be free to use⁵.

The picture changes abroad. Using a debit card overseas typically costs £1 to £3 each time you use your card, except euros in the EU, plus a foreign exchange fee often around 3% of the transaction amount⁶. A withdrawal that takes you past your balance can also land you in overdraft interest, and a cash machine is one of the places card fraud happens. This page sets out what each route costs, what protects you, and where that protection stops.

Most UK cash machines are free, but check the screen and signs

The UK's cash machine network is built around free withdrawals. The Payment Systems Regulator states that "Overwhelmingly, the majority of cash withdrawals are carried out at free to use ATMs (98%)"¹. The regulator continues to oversee LINK, the ATM network, making sure people and businesses have access to cash across the UK².

That does not mean every machine is free. Most are free to use, but some charge a fee and this will be advised on the screen³. The practical rule is to look at the machine's own signage and then at the screen before you confirm the amount. If a fee applies, it appears there, and you can walk away.

Which card you use matters too. Cash machine withdrawals in pounds in the UK are free if you're using your card in a cash machine with a Visa logo⁹. Debit cards are usually free for UK cash machine withdrawals, which is why using a debit card rather than a credit card to take out cash is the cheaper route¹⁰.

There is one group of accounts where even a free machine can cost you. With credit union current accounts, you might be charged each time you use a cash machine to withdraw money or view your balance, so always check¹¹. And the cost of paid machines falls hardest on people who rely on cash: some are charged to use fee-charging ATMs because they use cash to budget on a tight income¹².

Withdrawing cash at the Post Office and community cash machines

The Post Office is a free alternative for many current account holders. Some banks will let you cash a current account personal cheque or use your cash card at the Post Office, free of charge, though which banks do this varies, so ask your local post office¹³. Post Office counter withdrawals are free¹⁴.

Community Cash In & Out machines, the shared machines placed where branch and ATM coverage has thinned, are free to use¹⁵. They are completely free to use, and they let you pay cash in as well as take it out¹⁶.

Credit union members have their own routes to cash. These include cashing a cheque at a local Post Office, taking cash from a local credit union office, having money paid directly into a bank account, or using a debit card at a cash machine if the credit union operates a current account¹⁷. Post Office Instant Saver withdrawals are free of charge¹⁸.

If you cannot get to a branch or a machine, the Payment Exception Service lets you get vouchers that you can swap for cash at a Post Office or PayPoint outlet, often found in a corner shop, loaded onto a payment card or sent by email or text message¹⁹. For more on the shared options, see access to cash and banking at the Post Office.

Using your debit card at cash machines abroad: £1 to £3 a withdrawal plus around 3%

Taking cash out overseas is where the costs stack up. MoneyHelper's guidance on current accounts says using your debit card abroad brings a spending or cash machine charge, typically between £1 and £3 each time you use your card, except euros in the EU, plus a foreign exchange fee, often around 3% of the transaction amount⁶.

The euro exception is real but narrow. Halifax does not charge for euro withdrawals from outside the EEA or UK where the cash machine operator's payment service provider is based in the EEA or UK²⁰. Bank of Ireland UK does not charge for making a cash withdrawal at cash machines in the UK, however some providers may²¹. Rules differ by bank, so the account terms are the only reliable guide.

Credit cards are more expensive for cash. You can expect to pay a fee of around 3%, minimum £3, when you take money out of an ATM with a credit card⁷. Most credit cards add a foreign transaction fee of around 3% on non-sterling purchases and cash withdrawals²². On top of that, a cash withdrawal on a credit card usually means a cash advance fee, a higher APR and no interest-free period even if the bill is repaid in full and on time²².

One practical habit saves money: avoid taking cash out of ATMs in lots of small amounts, because you may get charged per withdrawal²³. The amount you can withdraw on a credit card depends on your credit limit and current balance, as well as a daily cash limit for cash machine use, which is disclosed in the terms and conditions²⁴.

When a withdrawal takes you into your overdraft

A cash machine will let you take out more than you hold if your account has an arranged overdraft. Overdrafts let you take out cash at no extra charge²⁵, but the borrowing itself is not free: you pay daily interest for using an overdraft, often up to 40% APR until it is paid back⁶.

The bigger risk is that the facility can disappear. Your bank can withdraw or reduce your overdraft at any time, without notice²⁶. If you are using your overdraft, you'll have to pay it back before you can close your account, and you'll lose access to statements, so make sure you've got copies if you need them⁶.

Accounts without an overdraft remove that risk. These accounts normally have no fees or overdraft²⁷. A basic bank account gives you no overdraft facility, no interest charged on the account, and no fees for returned direct debits or standing orders²⁸. You will not be able to borrow money, or have an overdraft or cheque book²⁹.

If a withdrawal is refused because there is not enough money, a fee can follow: a fee if you don't have enough money to cover a payment, usually called an unpaid transaction fee⁶. For the mechanics of borrowing this way, see overdrafts explained and how overdraft interest and charges work.

Problems with a cash withdrawal: fraud, refunds and complaints

Cash machines are a safe way to access your account and money, but there are steps that protect users³⁰. You cannot withdraw money from a cash machine using contactless: you need to enter your PIN³¹. If you notice anything strange about the ATM, such as loose or unusual attachments, report it to the cash machine operator, and the machine is best left unused if it feels unsafe³².

Some banks will allow you to put a maximum cash machine withdrawal limit through your banking app, which can prevent criminals taking large sums if your card is stolen³⁰. That is worth setting before you travel or if you rarely use cash.

On refunds, the position is narrower than many people assume. There is not an automatic legal right to receive your money back through chargeback rights or Section 75, as this will depend on the supplier's terms and conditions, scheme rules such as Mastercard, Visa or Amex, applicable government laws and regulations and the approach taken by your card issuer³³. Chargeback is the route to ask for money back if you paid with a debit card or charge card, or with a credit card or buy now, pay later and you can't use Section 75³⁴.

If a complaint is needed, the route is fixed. Contact customer services, then make a formal complaint, and the bank has eight weeks to investigate and give a final response⁶. If the complaint is related to payments, it has 15 days to investigate and give a final response³⁵. If you still disagree, or the deadline passes, you can take it to the free Financial Ombudsman Service⁶. The ombudsman recorded 8,945 current account complaints opened in the first quarter of 2026/27³⁶.

Where protection stops

If your bank is a regulated UK bank or building society, your money is protected. If your bank goes bust then you'll automatically get your money back under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme⁸. That covers the balance in your current account, not the cash in your hand.

Not every account that looks like a current account is covered the same way. If an account is not FSCS protected, it's likely to be a virtual current account covered by e-money rules, which means your money is kept safe at a different bank, but you'd need to make a claim to the administrator if your provider failed³⁷. Some client money arrangements work differently again: if the platform collapses, your money will be safe, and you won't have to wait for administrators to get it back³⁸.

The other limit is on the transaction itself. Chargeback is not an automatic legal right, and it depends on scheme rules and your card issuer's approach³³. Cash withdrawals are also excluded from the reimbursement rules that cover authorised push payment fraud: those rules do not cover payments made using cash, a cheque, or a credit, debit, or prepaid card³⁹.

For the full picture on account protection, see is my current account protected? FSCS and e-money accounts, and for unauthorised transactions see unauthorised payments from your bank account.