Madrid becomes the first Spanish region with free cash machines in every town

No more driving miles just to find an ATM. The Community of Madrid is set to become the first region in Spain where every single town and small district will have at least one cash machine – and the best part? No commissions, ever.

Announced by regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the plan will finally bring access to banking services to Madrid’s most remote villages, where nearly 90,000 residents still live without a single ATM. It’s a change that could make a big difference for those who’ve long been left behind by the disappearance of rural bank branches.

Ending the ‘cash desert’ across rural Madrid

The project, confirmed by Miguel Ángel García Martín, Madrid’s Minister for Presidency, Justice and Local Administration, will roll out from March 2026 and aims to reach 61 municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents – plus two smaller districts – covering a total of 63 localities.

For years, small towns in the Sierra Norte and other rural areas have been cut off from basic financial services. Now, that’s about to change.

“This initiative will ensure that every resident, no matter where they live, can withdraw cash without paying commissions,” García Martín said, highlighting that the service will be multibrand, so it won’t matter which bank customers use.

The regional government has set aside €70,000 to fund the scheme, which will run under a five-year public contract. Local councils only need to provide a space with electricity and internet access – once that’s ready, the ATMs can be installed.

“The agility of the councils will be key,” the minister added. “As soon as they give us a suitable location, we’ll start the installation process.”

More than just withdrawing cash

These won’t be your average cash machines. Besides dispensing money, the new ATMs will eventually allow users to deposit cash, check balances, pay local taxes or bills, and even top up public transport cards.

The idea, according to the regional government, is to ensure that someone living in La Acebeda, one of Madrid’s smallest villages, enjoys the same level of access to basic services as someone in Móstoles, the second-largest city in the region.

“Financial inclusion is a matter of equality,” García Martín said, noting that the service will be free of charge for all users, regardless of their bank.

The new ATMs will help level the playing field between urban and rural areas – something that’s become increasingly urgent as many Spanish villages lose their last physical bank branches.

A step toward equal access

Madrid’s government hopes to make financial exclusion a thing of the past, especially for elderly residents who have struggled with digital banking.

For some localities, particularly those made up of several small historic settlements, authorities are even considering installing more than one ATM to make sure everyone can access the service easily.

The rollout will continue throughout 2026, and the machines will be maintained and operated directly by the regional government for at least five years.

Once completed, Madrid will officially become the first region in Spain to guarantee that every resident, no matter how remote their town, can access cash whenever they need it – without paying a cent in fees.

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