The number of automatic teller machines (ATM) is constantly falling in France. In 2019, this decrease of slightly over 4% hit the most densely populated areas of the country, according to Banque de France figures.

There are fewer and fewer automatic teller machines (ATM) in France. Currently, there are just over 50,000 in metropolitan France, according to a Banque de France report published on Thursday, 30 July and spotted by BFMTV. Over 2,100 ATMs have been removed across the country in 2019, a decrease of almost 4%.

Changes in consumption habits in France

This decline is greater than those recorded in previous years. Between 2015 and 2018, the fall in the number of ATMs averaged 1.8% per year. The Banque de France explains this drop by “the erosion of the use of cash in transactions, because of changes in consumption and payment methods”. In fact, between 2012 and 2019, cash payments decreased by 13.2%, the report points out.

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French people have favoured the use of subscription options and card payments since the outbreak of Covid-19. The ceiling on contactless payments has also been raised from 30 to 50 euros since the lifting of the lockdown. Even without this stimulus, over the last ten years, card payments have increased by 67%.

The cost of purchasing and maintaining ATMs is huge

Another reason for the end of ATMs is their cost. The purchase of one of these machines for a bank is estimated at between 35,000 and 50,000 euros. Its maintenance and the supply of banknotes amounts to 15,000 euros. Because of competition from online banks, traditional banks are closing some of their branches without leaving an ATM.

However, according to the Banque de France, they are disappearing in the most densely populated areas. “The number of towns with at least one ATM has fallen by only 0.2% over the past year,” the institution points out.