Cash Isn’t Dead: Why ATMs Still Matter in 2025 and Beyond
Published August 15, 2025 by Chris Nichols
Small purchases and budgets
Plenty of people still pay cash for anything under ten dollars, and some pay cash for everything because it keeps them on a budget. Those customers don't go away because the card reader got faster.
Tips and paying people back
Bartenders still like cash tips. People still split a tab or pay a babysitter in bills. That's a lot of small withdrawals.
When the system goes down
When the card network or the internet drops out, cash is the only thing that still works. A store with an ATM keeps selling during an outage, as long as the machine's own connection is up.
What that means around here
In the small towns I cover, from Butler up to Grove City, people still ask the cashier where the nearest ATM is. If the answer is your store, that's a reason to come in.
If you have a storefront around Butler and want a machine in it, fill out the host form or call or text me at (724) 264-8181. The calculator gives you a rough monthly number first, if you'd rather start there.
Town pages: Butler · Slippery Rock · Grove City · Mercer · Harrisville