Aussies urged to withdraw cash from ATMs in massive grassroots Cash Out Day protest

Millions are expected to flock to ATMs all over the country to withdraw cash today – as part of a grassroots movement to put pressure on the federal government and banks. April 28 is national Cash Out Day, where Australians are being asked to make a withdrawal at their nearest ATM or bank branch. The movement has garnered massive support across all Australian states and territories, acting as an opportunity to keep cash as a viable option in the country. “It has had an impact, there was a very successful Cash Out Day a couple of years ago which led to the government announcing a cash mandate,” Cash Welcome founder and financial journalist Jason Bryce told NewsWire. “This is just an easy way for consumers to send a message to the banks that we have a right to access our money in our local community.” Mr Bryce said 900,000 to one million people make an ATM withdrawal on a normal day in Australia. The Cash Out Day campaign is aiming to double this to 1.8 million – as a way of reminding banks of the need to support cash in the economy. Mr Bryce said for anyone who wants to participate in Cash Out Day, it was as simple as removing $20 from an ATM, bank or eftpos retailer. “The convenience of tap and go is fine, nobody is talking about taking it away from transaction options, but we need to have a choice of how we pay and everyone needs to use cash every now and then,” he said. Despite Australians’ access to cash diminishing in recent years, the number of people using physical tender is on the rise. About 15 per cent of transactions in 2025 were made with cash – up 2 per cent from 2023, according to an RBA study. Although this included transactions for paying bills online, in-person transactions jumped closer to one in five transactions. The study also found that about half of Australians use cash at least once per week, with older Aussies found to use the method of payment more than younger residents. Households with lower incomes also used cash more than digital payments, the study found. As cash usage increases, the RBA warned that reducing cash availability would have dire effects on one-third of Aussies. “The results suggest that one-third of Australians would face hardship or major inconvenience if cash was difficult to access or if shops did not accept cash,” the study read. “Many Australians still carry cash for unexpected transactions or in case electronic payments are not available.” The study found that the Australians who depended on using cash said they would “face major difficulties if cash were to become harder to use”.