Cash Use in 2026: What Federal Reserve Findings Mean for ATM Placement
Federal Reserve cash-use findings provide context for ATM placement, but individual sites still need their own assessment.
Cash accounted for about one in seven payments in the Federal Reserve's 2026 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice release. Published May 11, 2026, the findings draw on a survey conducted in October 2025. Rural residents averaged nine cash payments per month, compared with six among urban and suburban consumers. Federal Reserve findings.
Kathleen Young, executive vice president and chief of FedCash Services, said: “Cash continues to remain a primary payment method for some”. That finding supports discussing access to cash. It does not establish the transaction volume or earnings of a particular ATM location. Federal Reserve release.
Use national data as context
When discussing placement with an operator, separate evidence about national payment behavior from information about the proposed site. The survey describes consumers across the country. It does not measure your business's foot traffic, nearby machines, or future withdrawals.
Ask the operator what information it uses to evaluate a location. Provide actual business hours, existing cash-access options, and any recorded customer requests. Avoid converting general cash use into a guaranteed monthly revenue estimate.
Compare a site's operating arrangements
Discuss where the machine would be installed, who supplies cash, who handles replenishment, and who responds to service needs. Ask how the proposed equipment and support arrangements fit the location.
Request a written revenue-share formula and reporting terms. If a proposal includes a forecast, ask for its assumptions and distinguish it from a contractual payment commitment. Compare expected costs and responsibilities alongside the forecast.
Revisit the decision using records
Once an ATM is operating, ask which reports are available and how the operator reviews the arrangement. Use records from the actual machine when discussing future changes, rather than continuing to rely on a national benchmark.
Find placement providers through ATM Atlas and request a site-specific proposal. Federal Reserve research gives a credible reason to consider cash access; the local assessment gives you a basis for deciding whether a placement fits your business.