The number of ATMs and cash access points in mainland France stabilized in 2021, after a slight drop in 2020, mainly thanks to the development of distribution points in shops, according to a report published Monday by Banque de France. France.
In total, there were 73,802 cash access points at the end of 2021, compared to 73,976 at the end of 2020, a decrease of 0.2%. Between 2019 and 2020, their number had dropped by 3.2%. The territory’s coverage is generally unchanged from one year to the next, according to the Banque de France, pointing out that, like last year, more than 99% of the metropolitan population, aged 15 and over, had a means of access less than 15 minutes by car.
This stabilization is due to the development of withdrawal points in shops, which represent more than a third of the total and increased by 3.2% in 2021, while the number of ATMs fell by 2%.
The decrease in the number of ATMs is concentrated in the most populated and best-equipped towns, reflecting an optimization of existing facilities in these territories and therefore not likely to alter the accessibility indicators, however specified the Banque de France. France.
If the total number of ATMs has decreased, it has increased by 4.7% in municipalities with less than 500 inhabitants, which however concentrate only a tiny part.
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Independent distributors triple
Another notable development, compared to the end of 2020, the number of independent distributors has almost tripled with 352 points in mainland France. Three operators share the market: the Americans Euronet and Brink’s as well as the Swedish Loomis.
These ATMs are mainly located, on the one hand, in places with high traffic – particularly foreign (airports, tourist places or near borders, etc.) and, on the other hand, in rural towns lacking in infrastructure, often in partnership with local authorities (municipalities), explained the Banque de France.
To ATMs and private access points to cash, we must also add other means of accessing cash, such as cashback (cash withdrawals in a business with a purchase associated with the operation), specified the French Banking Federation which recalls that if the use of cash decreases, (the banks) remain vigilant that all French people have access to it without difficulty.
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