On 27 October 2021, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) published a consultation paper proposing a new Draft Specific Direction (DSD) to continue to support the operator LINK regarding the maintenance of free-to-use ATMs to meet service user needs.

The DSD will require LINK to continue to have in place appropriate policies, measures and reporting obligations regarding protected ATMs. The new Direction will replace Specific Direction 8 which expires on 2 January 2022.

PSR expects LINK to consider:

• Ways in which the resilience of its ATM replacement procedures could be enhanced.
• How it can improve the transparency of its Direct Commissioning process.

The DSD also requires:

• LINK’s policies and measures to meet specific objectives: LINK must set out the criteria it plans to use to determine the circumstances in which alternative cash access will be considered as adequate substitute for a lost ATM.
• Fewer monitoring and reporting requirements.
• LINK to provide PSR with one months’ notice if it proposes to vary, revoke or replace any procedures, policy processes or measures, including the defined radius which is currently set at 1km. LINK is not permitted to make any proposed changes if PSR raise objectives within the one-month notice period.

The DSD is open for consultation until 16 November 2021.