Use it or lose it’: Aussies urged to head to ATMs for Cash Out Day protest
In a major protest against the financial sector and federal government, Australians are being urged to do one simple thing on Tuesday.   


News.com.au
April 26, 2026

A grassroots movement is urging Australians to put pressure on the federal government and major banks simply by withdrawing cash on Tuesday.

April 28 is national Cash Out Day, where Australians are being asked to head to their nearest ATM or bank branch and make a withdrawal.

Cash Welcome founder and financial journalist Jason Bryce said this Cash Out Day was a major opportunity to keep the cash option in Australia.

“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,” he 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.”

Cash usage is on the increase again.

Mr Bryce said on a normal day in Australia 900,000 to one million people make an ATM withdrawal.

The campaign hopes 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.


Surprising cash trend emerges

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.

Australians are still using cash for in-person 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”.

Despite usage rising, access to physical tender remains problematic.

Mr Bryce said this needed to change.

“The average Australian and the average retailer is finding it much more difficult than even three years ago to use cash,” he said.

“The RBA is saying more Australians want to use cash, but the banks are making it difficult, so there’s got to be a bit of a turnaround.”

Mr Bryce said the numbers were clear: More Australians want to use cash and he hoped the banks responded by reopening branches and providing more ATM options.   

National Seniors Australia chief executive Chris Grice warned that older Australians still needed access to cash.

“Not all seniors are comfortable using debit or credit cards, or banking online, because they’re not tech savvy, they’re fearful of potential scams, and cash is what they’ve always known,” he said.

He said the NSA mantra was “use it or lose it”.

“For the first time in years, Australians are using cash more often and for greater amounts,” he said.   

“Cash users across the country should feel validated by the news that proves cash still has a solid place in the economy. Add to this the Cash Mandate introduced in January this year and cash is certainly making a comeback.”

Aussies have been told to withdraw money on Tuesday for Cash Out Day.

I wouldn’t trust our banks and our superannuation as much as our politicians.

Which means zero!

I will be cashing out and buying a safe.

Always do the exact opposite of what our corrupt politicians say and you will always be better off!

whiteknight wrote on Apr 26^th, 2026 at 10:23am:


Take cash out when you go to Woolies

Yadda wrote on Apr 26^th, 2026 at 7:29pm:



You also never worked a day in your life.