Dollars and euros from your High Street hole in the wall

The group said it is introducing multi-currency ATMs because its customers want instant access to foreign money.

The first machine to offer the service has been installed in the group's Old Broad Street branch in the City of London.

There are plans for three more in London, and others will follow in Basingstoke, Chester, Dumfries, Southampton and Windsor before the end of the year.

The cash machines, which are being provided by Travelex, will accept both Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards.

Halifax and Bank of Scotland debit card customers will not be charged fees or commission for using the service, although those who use credit cards will be charged the normal cash advance rate.

People who bank outside the Halifax and Bank of Scotland group will be charged according to their own account terms and conditions.

Nigel Turkington, head of travel money at Halifax, said: "Our customers have told us that the immediate availability of foreign currency would be a valuable addition to our services and we plan to roll out more of these multi-currency ATMs in the near future."

But Rob Kenley, head of cards at moneysupermarket.com, said he does not think customers will be any better off using the Halifax ATM than using a cash machine when they get to their overseas destination.

He added: "The proposition that Halifax are providing to consumers is no better or worse than going abroad and withdrawing money from an ATM, so long as the provider doesn't charge a transaction fee.

"The thing the consumer needs to look out for is what their card issuer will charge them."