Britain Stands Up for Cash

Campaigns to ensure cash is accessible to all and usable everywhere have been launched by diverse organisations in the UK, united in their desire to preserve payment choice following bank closures and rising cash refusal by shops.

The Freedom to Pay Our Way

Which? is a British consumer rights organisation that has long advocated for cash. Their Freedom to Pay campaign is supported by the Association of Convenience Stores, the British Independent Retailers Association and the British Retail Consortium, and has already achieved pledges to accept cash from major retailers including Aldi, Asda, Co-op, John Lewis, Lloyds Pharmacy and Waitrose.

You can support the campaign by signing the petition demanding the Payment Systems Regulator takes immediate steps to regulate ATM interchange fees and reduce the rate at which free-to-use ATMs are closing, and the Government changes the law to guarantee access to cash is protected.

Save Our Cash

The #saveourcash campaign is a response from the UK’s Post Office to cash disappearing from high streets and communities across Britain, with access to cash becoming scarcer, especially in rural communities. The Post Office itself plays an important role in reaching these areas, via cash services throughout its network of 11,500 branches. Its campaign is seeking to hold banks to an obligation of providing free cash withdrawals.

You can support the campaign (if you live in Britain) by using this form to contact your local MP and tell them why they should ask the Government to ‘save our cash’.

Keep Cash

Launched in mid-July by the Telegraph Money newspaper, Keep Cash has also secured promises to accept cash from high street retailers, including Marks & Spencer. It also has the support of over 50 politicians from across the political spectrum. Small businesses are highlighted as being particularly at risk if cash ceases to be a viable payment option.

You can support the campaign by emailing stories of cash ‘heroes and villains’—businesses that are helpful in accepting cash, and those that are refusing it—to keepcash@telegraph.co.uk.

Requiring Retailers and Businesses to Accept Cash

A petition running until 21 December 2021 calls on the Government to ensure all retailers and businesses must accept cash by law. At 10,000 signatures, it will receive a response from the Government and be considered for debate in Parliament.

You can support this initiative by signing the petition here.

Community Access to Cash Pilots

The Community Access to Cash Pilots is an independent initiative supported by major banks, consumer groups and small business associations that is supporting eight communities across the UK in trialling scalable solutions to keeping cash available and sustainable. The results of the pilots (expected after their conclusion in October 2021) will be used to inform regulators and industry how to best support cash.

The initiative is led by Natalie Ceeney, who chaired the influential Access to Cash Review that reported on consumer needs surrounding cash in 2019, and has since informed progress in cash legislation. More information for interested individuals is available on their website.