Residents complained about free cash machines disappearing from their high streets after an ATM was left empty and not working for days.

Wallingford bank customers complained about the lack of free hole-in -the-wall machines in the town, leaving them unable to withdraw their cash.

It came after the Nationwide ATM on St Mary’s Street was left unfilled from Sunday, July 30 to Tuesday, August 1.

One member of Wallingford Matters community group complained that she couldn’t get cash from Nationwide as the machine was empty as early as 8.20am.

Another resident replied: “Where are the ATMs located in our town?”

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A second person added: “That’s how cashless society starts. Soon there will be no ATMs left. In this case the good news is the people of Wallingford still use cash – hence empty ATM."

Another resident complained: “That ATM hasn’t had cash in a while as it was empty Sunday as well." 

A large chunk of free cash machines have disappeared in areas where big banks have axed branches.

Barclays closed its Wallingford branch in 2021, however, people can still get cash from the Lloyds bank machine in the Market Place as well as at nearby shops and petrol stations.

But in the UK, taking money out of a cash machine with your debit card is usually free with a few exceptions.

Whereas some fee-charging cash machines – especially ones inside small shops, on garage forecourts and in nightclubs - can cost up to £2 per withdrawal.

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Behind the surge in the number of charging machines is the switch to contactless payments for even small purchases and cuts in payments made by banks to cash machine operators every time money is withdrawn, making free ATMs less viable. 

However, Nationwide has confirmed their Wallingford ATM is now restocked and working again.

A Nationwide spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately a fault meant the ATM in Wallingford was temporarily out of action. The fault was fixed on 1 August and the ATM is now working normally.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”