Britain's government said Wednesday it is considering plans which would see the public asked to donate to good causes each time they use an ATM.
Ministers confirmed they are consulting with banks on the idea, common in Colombia and Mexico, to allow customers to give money to charities when they withdraw cash, or check their balance.
The government will also discuss a plan to allow shoppers who pay for goods or services using debit cards in stores to round up the cost of purchases and donate the difference.
UK Seeks Charity ATM Donations
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the proposals are among a host of potential policies aimed at increasing donations to British charities — including opening up landmark government buildings for public events, or adding a voluntary levy to orders at takeaway restaurants.
A study by the Charities Aid Foundation published earlier this month found that about 56 percent of British adults regularly give to charity, donating an estimated 10.6 billion pounds ($16.3 billion) each year.
But while the British public are among the most generous in Europe, the country lags far behind the United States, where people donate the equivalent of 1.7 percent of gross domestic product. In the U.K., the public gives the equivalent of 0.7 percent of the country's GDP.
UK Seeks Charity ATM Donations
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