Around 85% of retail transactions may be made by card, but despite dwindling ATM numbers cashpoints still dispense over £100bn a year in the UK, so Shell’s decision to recommit to hosting hundreds of machines across its forecourt estate will be welcomed by many customers.
Shell has 561 company-owned sites in the UK and hosts free-to-use ATMS (automated teller machines) across the majority of its portfolio. The company has now extended its longstanding relationship with US cashpoint firm NCR Atleos to manage, stock and maintain 408 of these machines. Atlanta-based NCR is the largest cashpoint company in the world, though many of its UK machines operate under the CashZone sub-brand,
The oil major’s commitment to cash bucks a trend that has long been in evidence in the UK. Roughly 40% of transactions were made with notes and coins in 2016, a figure that now stands at just 11%. Cashpoint numbers fell significantly over the same period, with over 70,000 ATMs dispensing a decade ago, and 49,000 today.
Janine Albrecht-Webb, general manager, mobility & convenience for the UK at Shell says that providing cash to customers “remains an important part of the forecourt experience”, and that her firm’s “collaboration with NCR Atleos enables us to deliver a reliable service at scale while enhancing convenience and supporting retail engagement across our network.”
Neil Martin, area managing director for the UK at NCR Atleos comments: “This engagement reflects the strength of our relationship with Shell and their continued confidence in the ability of NCR Atleos to deliver reliable, large-scale ATM services”. He adds: “Together, we are enabling convenient access to cash for consumers while helping drive footfall and enhance the retail experience across Shell’s forecourt network.”
