Despite the higher individual amounts, total Saturday withdrawals of £204million were actually 11 per cent lower than the same day in 2025, which Link attributed to stormy weather keeping people indoors.
Graham Mott, Link’s director of strategy, said it “seems likely that at least some people chose to take the Government’s advice and take out some extra cash to be ready for some sort of emergency”.
The withdrawals followed the launch of Labour’s “Be Ready” campaign, which urges every household to keep three days’ worth of essential supplies on hand in case of a crisis, whether caused by conflict, a cyber attack or a natural disaster.
A Government checklist recommends stockpiling nine litres of drinking water per person, along with non-perishable items such as tinned meat, vegetables and dried fruit.
