BT installs cash machines in phone boxes

Phone kiosks could soon be a point of call for people wanting to withdraw money from the bank.

Nationwide Building Society has joined forces with BT to put ATMs in five phone kiosks in Northampton, Slough and Swindon (where Nationwide's HQ is located).

John Givens, campaigns manager for Nationwide, told silicon.com: "It's so our customers have easier access to non-charging cash machines. The first five are a pilot but we will be looking to do more."

Givens said the scheme is in response to a growing number of ATMs that charge people for withdrawing their cash.

He added: "Typically you'll get charged £1.50 a time. We're committed to having all our customers able to access cash machines that do not charge for money."

Nationwide recently called on HM Treasury and chief executives of major banks to make all ATMs free to use and to monitor the impact on consumers of machines that charge, especially in areas of social deprivation.

Nationwide operates 2,424 free-to-use cash machines in the UK.

The company estimates that the UK public will pay £250m in charges to withdraw their own money in 2006 and if all cash machines charged a fee customers could end up paying £2bn per year in charges.

Almost half the UK's cash machines now charge a fee, typically around £1.50.