Source: Sainsbury's Finance
Sainsbury's Finance estimates that £10.6 billion will be withdrawn from ATMs this December. This equates to around £341 million a day, £14.2 million an hour or £237,100 a minute. In total, it estimates that around £619 million more money will be withdrawn from ATMs this December than the same time last year.
Sainsbury's Finance has analysed the average monthly amount of money dispensed from ATMs between 2004 and 2009, and it shows that around 12.4% more money is withdrawn from cash machines in December than during a typical month.
Sainsbury's Finance has 1,100 free-to-use ATMs across the UK. It estimates that this month, around 15 million transactions will be made using its ATMs, and that approximately £740 million will be withdrawn from its machines.
Alex Blake, head of ATMs, Sainsbury's Finance said: "December is the busiest month in terms of the amount of cash withdrawn from cash machines, and we expect this Christmas to set a new record.
"This party season, make sure you don't leave getting your cash to the last minute - why not get your spending money whilst you're doing your shopping. It certainly beats standing in line in the freezing cold on your night out."