New quarterly Post Office Cash Tracker data shows nearly 40 million (39.8m) cash withdrawals and deposits were made at branches in the first three months of 2026 - up by nearly a million (900,000), an increase of 2% year-on-year.
This marks the highest first quarter on record as households and businesses continued to rely on cash and turned to Post Office branches for everyday cash services, it said.
Between January and March this year, deposit volumes for business and personal customers rose 6% compared with Q1 2025, while the total value of cash withdrawals increased 6%, showing continued demand for everyday cash services at Post Office branches.
The data also suggests customers were using Post Office branches for higher-value transactions as they managed household budgets more closely. A particularly strong March performance was driven by households preparing for Easter and the school break, with holiday-related spending, travel and cash withdrawals likely to have contributed to that uplift, alongside continued cost of living pressures shaping how people budget and spend.
When studied together, the figures suggest households are continuing to use cash in a deliberate way, with the added cost of the Easter period and household costs, including energy bills, travel and fuel, likely to have increased demand for cash as a budgeting tool.
Business cash activity remained resilient with the average transaction value increasing 2%. Transaction volumes were in line with the same period last year, showing cash continues to play a dependable role for many businesses managing takings, cash flow and regular banking needs through their local branch.
Ben Hunter Woollard, head of banking at the Post Office, said: “These record-breaking figures show how important Post Offices remain for millions of people and businesses across the UK who want convenient, secure access to cash services on their doorsteps.
“For households, being able to withdraw and deposit cash can be a simple way to stay on top of spending, manage budgets and handle everyday finances with confidence, particularly when family budgets are under pressure.”
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