The banks now have to ask to protect some people from scams etc. Last time i wanted a large amount in cash, it was 20k and i did pre-order it. When asked, i said i was giving it to the boys to buy nice things and that went OK. They soon wasted it on cars but having traded them a few times, still have some nice cars.
Tricky to get cash now as my local branch of Santander closed up and the bank was bought by drug involved people. It is now shut down by police and boarded up.