Are ATMs disappearing from NZ by 2026? What could replace them might surprise you

For decades, grabbing cash from a street corner ATM was part of everyday life in New Zealand.

But if recent trends continue, those days could soon be over — and many Kiwis might not be ready for what comes next.

Several major banks have already begun quietly removing ATMs across the country, especially in rural and suburban areas.

Some towns now have no cash machines at all, and more removals are planned for 2025 and beyond.

So, is this the beginning of the end for cash in New Zealand?

And if so — what’s taking its place?

Fewer machines, less cash — and not just in small towns

Over the past three years, dozens of ATMs have been removed from Northland, the West Coast, Canterbury, and parts of the Waikato.

Even urban suburbs in Auckland and Wellington have seen closures.

According to banking insiders, the decline is being driven by:

• A steep drop in cash withdrawals
• Rising maintenance costs for older machines
• A nationwide push toward digital-only services

Some of the country’s biggest banks have stopped servicing their standalone ATMs altogether, opting instead to direct customers to digital banking or in-branch alternatives (where branches still exist).

“By 2026, most of the ATMs you remember will likely be gone,” says a former executive at a major bank.

“And no one’s making noise about it — yet.”

What’s replacing them?

Here’s where it gets interesting. The answer isn’t just “use a card.”

Instead, banks and retailers are trialling a mix of technologies and new systems to fill the gap — some of which may surprise you:

• “Cash-out hubs” inside supermarkets and petrol stations
• Retail-based ATMs owned by private operators, with dynamic fees
• App-based cash delivery services (yes, like Uber for money)
• Post office counters offering limited banking functions
• Even talk of shared community banking kiosks, funded by local councils

But while the tech may be evolving, access to cash is clearly shrinking — and it’s older Kiwis and rural residents who are feeling it the most.

Not everyone’s happy

The shift is raising questions about financial exclusion, especially for:

• Elderly New Zealanders who rely on cash
• Small business owners who still trade in notes and coins
• Tourists and seasonal workers without mobile banking setups

“There are places in the South Island now where getting $20 in cash means a 40-minute drive,” says a Southland dairy owner.

“That’s not progress — that’s a step backwards.”

Consumer groups have called for regulations to protect cash access, but the response from major banks so far has been muted.

What next?

If the trend continues, cash could become a niche payment method in New Zealand within two to three years.

That doesn’t mean it will disappear entirely — but getting it will become harder, slower, and more expensive.

So next time you walk past your local ATM, take a good look.

Because by 2026, it might be gone — and what replaces it might not look anything like a bank.