Access to cash in Germany is largely secured – although the number of ATMs and bank branches is continuing to decline – according to the latest Monthly Report. For example, the majority of the population has access to an ATM or bank counter within five kilometres.

The authors write that a well-developed cash infrastructure is necessary for cash to be used as a means of payment and store of value. ATMs are, they note, by far the most important withdrawal facilities in Germany. In a representative public survey carried out by the Bundesbank, 96 percent of respondents used ATMs for cash withdrawals and 78 percent of the total amount of cash taken out was withdrawn from ATMs. Bank counters, the authors write, have recently regained importance for withdrawals following a decline during the coronavirus pandemic. Their share rose from 11 percent in 2021 to 13 percent in 2023. In addition, points of sale have emerged as an additional important facility in recent years, with consumers obtaining 9% of their total withdrawals there. 

Fewer and fewer bank branches and ATMs

Nevertheless, the public can now withdraw cash at significantly fewer access points operated by the banking industry: according to the Bundesbank, the number of ATMs fell from 59,000 in 2018 to around 51,000 at present. The growing trend towards online banking and the phenomenon of robberies involving blowing up ATMs are likely to have contributed to a reduction in their numbers. At the same time, the experts describe an increase in the perceived difficulty of access to cash. In a Bundesbank survey, the proportion of respondents who found it fairly difficult or very difficult to get to an ATM or bank counter more than doubled from 6% in 2021 to 15% in 2023. Nevertheless, the majority of the population in Germany still consider their route to an ATM or bank counter as easy overall. 

Access varies across municipalities 

According to the Bundesbank, around 6,000 municipalities with a total of 80.7 million inhabitants are equipped with at least one ATM or bank counter, covering around 96% of the population. By contrast, around 3.6 million people have to leave their municipality to obtain cash. On average, inhabitants live 1.4 kilometres from the nearest ATM or bank counter, which corresponds to a journey time of around three minutes by car. 

Better access to cash in the city 

According to the report, access to cash is better in urban areas than in rural areas. In towns and cities, the average distance to the nearest cash withdrawal location is shorter than in rural areas. While the nearest bank counter or ATM in urban regions is 1.1 kilometres away on average, those living rurally have to travel 1.9 kilometres on average. In total, 90.3 percent of the rural population have access to an ATM or bank counter within five kilometres. In urban areas, by contrast, the share is 98.1%.

Cash infrastructure in Germany nevertheless good

The Bundesbank’s experts believe that access to cash in Germany is good overall, despite the reduction in cash infrastructure. They explain that, in order for the freedom of choice between cash and digital means of payment to endure, infrastructure for the supply of cash must remain intact in future. They also note that, as part of the Eurosystem’s cash strategy, the Bundesbank is committed to ensuring that cash remains available as a payment method and store of value.