The survey of more than 1,000 Scots found just five per cent of people in the Highlands and Islands support a cashless society, while 81 per cent oppose the idea.
It also found 86 per cent believe local bank branches remain important to their communities, while almost three-quarters support forcing businesses to continue accepting cash.
Of the eight Scottish regions analysed, the Highlands and Islands recorded the lowest support for a cashless society and the highest proportion of people who said local bank branches were “very important”, at 59 per cent. No other part of Scotland combined such consistently strong support for cash, bank branches and face-to-face banking across so many measures.
The findings come as banks continue to shut branches across Scotland and more communities are left without traditional banking services.
Nearly three in four of Scotland’s bank branches have disappeared in the past decade while one in four free cash machines have vanished from high streets since the pandemic, which has fuelled calls for the right to access and use of cash to be protected by law.
Ron Delnevo, chairman of the Payment Choice Alliance, said the results showed Scots still place huge value on physical banking services.
He said: “All in all, there is very strong support in Scotland for bank branches, with clear use intentions, including to access cash via ATMs.”
And he added: “Cash access is clearly seen as a key local branch facility. The banks have made cash and face-to-face banking much harder to get throughout the Highlands.
“The survey results clearly show that public in the Highlands won’t accept cashless; want local cash access, 24/7; and consider it important to have a physical bank branch locally for their face-to-banking needs.
“Locally should NOT involve the likes of the 174 mile round trip from Campbeltown to Oban for Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland customers.”
But the poll suggests the attachment to cash stretches far beyond the north of the country.
In Glasgow, 87% said local bank branches were important.
In South Scotland, almost half of respondents said they still use cash at least once a week.
Across mid Scotland and Fife, 78 per cent backed making cash acceptance a legal requirement.
Meanwhile, opposition to Scotland becoming a cashless society stood at 82 per cent in Glasgow, 80 per cent in west Scotland and 78 per cent in south Scotland.
The findings suggest concern about the future of cash is being felt in cities, towns and rural communities alike.
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Campaigners say the Highlands stand out because the realities of life in many remote communities make cash particularly important.
Long distances to services, patchy mobile coverage and unreliable internet connections mean digital payments cannot always be taken for granted.
For many residents, cash is viewed not simply as a preference but as a practical necessity.
Few places illustrate that more clearly than Durness.
Durness (Image: Google)
The remote north-west Sutherland village found itself at the centre of a battle over cash access in 2019 after losing its only ATM.
The machine had served residents, tourists and local businesses in one of the most isolated parts of mainland Britain.
When it disappeared, the nearest free-to-use cash machine was more than 50 miles away.
Local business owners warned the loss threatened tourism and trade.
Some visitors reportedly found themselves unable to access cash locally, while concerns were raised about the reliability of card payments in an area where digital connectivity could not always be guaranteed.
The campaign eventually resulted in LINK, which oversees Britain’s cash machine network, installing a replacement free-to-use ATM.
The machine remains in place.
Campaigners say the episode demonstrated how important access to cash remains in many parts of rural Scotland.
One local business owner said: “Tourists use cards. Lots of locals still use cash. When broadband goes down, cash keeps the business running.
“The poll doesn’t surprise me. We fought to keep access to cash because our community depends on it.”
Asked how they would use a local bank branch, 67% of Scots said they would use it for cash access, withdrawals and deposits.
There has been a slump in the number of ATMs (Image: NQ)
That made cash by far the most popular banking service identified by respondents.
Cheque deposits came a distant second on 27% and just 18% said they would not use any branch services.
According to Mr Delnevo, the figures demonstrate why communities continue to fight for banking facilities.
He said: “So 77% would use a bank branch. Not surprising when 80% in this survey said it was important or very important to have access to a bank branch in their local area.”
Over the past decade hundreds of bank branches have disappeared from high streets across Britain as customers have increasingly been encouraged to use online and mobile banking.
Campaigners have repeatedly warned that older people, vulnerable customers, rural residents and small businesses risk being left behind.
In response to concerns over banking deserts, new banking hubs have been rolled out across the UK.
The facilities are designed to provide access to cash and limited face-to-face banking services where branches have closed.
But Mr Delnevo believes the current network falls well short of what Scotland needs.
He said communities would increasingly need banking hubs because banks were unlikely to reopen large numbers of traditional branches.
In the Payment Choice Alliance’s view, every community with at least 5,000 residents should have access to a hub.
That would require more than 100 banking hubs across Scotland.
They are concerned that only 33 Scottish banking hubs are listed by Cash Access UK.
UK Finance, the trade association for British banking said: “The way people choose to bank is changing, with around 90 per cent of customers now using mobile, online or telephone services.
“At the same time, we know many people prefer, or need, to bank in person. That’s why the industry remains committed to face‑to‑face services, including branches, shared banking hubs, and everyday banking services available through the Post Office.
“Access to banking is very important, and we look forward to contributing to the review the government has asked Richard Lloyd to undertake in this area.”
John Howells, chief executive of LINK said “While more people are comfortable using and choosing digital and contactless payments, we know that digital does not always work. Our work protecting access to cash through recommending banking hubs and supporting communities with new ATMs remains critical for as long as people need cash.”