GazB

This reinforces an argument to keep using cash, as @Paul seems to agree.
In small amounts it works very well, especially for local in person transactions.
I large amounts, it runs into anti-money laundering checks, and over £10,000 it hits a brrick wall.
It doesn't work very well for online purchases, hotel reservations, and the like.
It does take longer to count, costs more to pay into banks, and poses a greater physical security risk.
I am not advocating a total return to cash, simply airing a few observations.
All payment methods have advatantages and disadvantages.
😎

its quite simple. 
 
banks are getting shouted at and screwed by regulators, the press, mps etc etc at dear old grannie who got talked into giving that nice man in nigeria £20k for her £10M lottery win,  money laundering etc.  what we are seeing now is the result.  banks being more careful about transactions all over the place, especially now they are being told they should repay ANY accusation of fraud.  There are ways out for the banks at the moment, whether they will get closed down who knows.
so to protect the people who have been, are and will be scammed, the rest of us have to put up with this - double verification, questions asked in branches when you take cash oput, acct nbr and name matching.   want to move to bitcoin?  fine, try moving it in then out to/from cash.  you will get hit at one point or both for the same reason.
 
( could happily fill this response with pages but, decided on the short version )