Keeping cash affordable and accessible

The success of the National Seniors Australia (NSA) Keep Cash campaign tells us that many people want to pay for products and services with cash rather than cards or apps. 

Cash remains essential, cost‑effective, and inclusive – especially for older Australians who still rely on it for their everyday transactions. 

Yet one question persists: Does it cost more to pay with cash than by card or digital transaction? In most cases, the answer is no – and we’ll explain why soon. 

First, some background. Card surcharges, barriers to online banking for people who can’t use the technology, and the steady decline of bank-owned ATMs disproportionately affect seniors.

NSA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Grice, warns that “as cash use declines, so does the number of access points available to withdraw it”.  

He notes that bank branch closures and the removal of bank ATMs particularly impact people who are less inclined to bank online. 

In many regional areas, travelling to another branch simply isn’t feasible, making it even harder for older Australians to continue using cash just as they always have. 

Keeping cash accessible and accepted matters to all Australians. Cash is a basic means of payment and it’s a backup in case of emergency. Without cash, if the internet goes down, commerce and essential services come to a halt. 

While digital payments are often promoted as cheaper or more convenient, card transactions can have hidden costs. Merchants may apply surcharges to debit and credit card payments – a practice NSA argues should be reduced or eliminated. 

However, accessing cash can also be expensive if you use ATMs that charge per withdrawal.  

This is where atmx, Australia’s largest fee‑free ATM network, significantly changes the cost equation. 

Launched in 2020, atmx partners with many financial institutions to eliminate direct‑charge fees for their customers, providing millions of Australians with fee‑free cash withdrawals and balance checks across a growing network of machines nationwide. 

With more than 1,750 active devices and a partner base of 25 financial institutions, atmx can now support more than 23 million cardholders with fee‑free access.  

The company’s general manager, Con Tsiknis, reinforces the importance of maintaining access to cash, noting that as digital payments dominate, “there is a growing need to ensure cash remains a viable and accessible payment option for all Australians, especially seniors who rely on it for everyday transactions”. 

Mr Tsiknis says cash is an essential part of Australia’s economy and that atmx believes fee‑free access should be a right, not a privilege. 

With an expanding national footprint – including in areas affected by bank closures – atmx helps many Australians access cash without added cost. 

NSA’s partnership with atmx aims to raise awareness among communities, retailers, and policymakers about the continued importance of cash infrastructure and the need to keep cash viable. 

The result is a landscape where, when account holders with atmx partner banks use the atmx network for fee-free transactions, cash is often the cheaper option, avoiding both ATM withdrawal fees and card‑payment surcharges. 

Paying with cash does not inherently cost more. In fact, thanks to the fee‑free ATM network and absence of card surcharges, it may cost you less. 

Find an atmx here.