atm

Whilst a story with Scottish roots this article is deeply relevant to rural communities where a lot of people still want to use cash as well as e-payment methods. It tells us:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under pressure to legally enshrine free access to cash in rural areas, after more than a fifth of ATMs closed in one north-east constituency.

A change in the law was first raised in the March 2020 budget but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, Conservative MP Andrew Bowie is calling for the Chancellor to push this to the top of the agenda at the state opening of parliament on May 10.

His West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency saw 22% of its free-to-use ATMs close between August 2018 and December 2021.

The proposals would introduce new laws to make sure people only need to travel a “reasonable distance” to pay in or take out cash.

The MP has been contacted by hundreds of constituents calling for the legislation to be introduced as part of the government’s next programme.

It comes after the Banchory branch of Virgin Money closed earlier this year – one of 12 closed across Scotland.