Bank customers collectively withdrew £83bn from ATMs last year, up from £79bn in 2021, according to ATM network Link.
But Link said ATM usage is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2019, £115 billion was withdrawn from ATMs.
The average total value of ATM withdrawals per person aged 16 and over in the UK was £1,564 last year, up from £1,462 in 2021, according to Link, who used population data from the Office for National Statistics. (ONS) to perform the calculations.
He said Northern Ireland remains the most “cash heavy” part of the UK. Bank customers in Northern Ireland withdrew an average of £2,266 in 2022.
Link said the number of ATMs dropped from 52,547 in December 2021 to 51,253 in December 2022.
The decrease was driven by a drop in the number of payment ATMs, from 11,691 in December 2021 to 10,384 in December 2022.
The number of free-use machines increased slightly, from 40,856 in December 2021 to 40,869 in December 2022.
Since 2019, Link has been running a community solicitation initiative that allows people to contact Link directly if they believe their community does not have sufficient access to cash.
Link has installed more than 150 free-to-use community ATMs.
Graham Mott, Link’s chief strategy officer, said: “While many people are now happy to use contactless or digital payments, our research shows that there are very few people who are completely cashless.
“We also know that people visit ATMs less frequently, but withdraw more cash on average.
“It is very good news that the Government is introducing legislation to help protect free access to cash.
“There are still more than five million people who depend on access to cash and on-site banking services.
“Digital payments and banking may be great for some, but at the moment it doesn’t work for everyone, which is why this legislation is so important.”
These are the average total values of ATM withdrawals in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 per person over the age of 16, according to Link:
– Northern Ireland, £2,931, £2,124, £2,070, £2,266
– London, £2572, £1838, £1699, £1744
– Scotland, £2,553, £1,670, £1,578, £1,686
– North West, £2420, £1745, £1662, £1709
– Yorkshire and Humber, £2,379, £1,705, £1,624, £1,691
– North East, £2,378, £1,711, £1,632, £1,745
– West Midlands, £2191, £1612, £1523, £1579
– East Midlands, £2017, £1427, £1352, £1400
– Wales, £2005, £1407, £1349, £1454
– East of England, £1894, £1299, £1223, £1260
– South East, £1,780, £1,196, £1,115, £1,165
– South West, £1684, £1090, £1023, £1069
– UK average, £2,193, £1,534, £1,462, £1,564