AIB to meet senior Government officials over move to cashless branches
There has been widespread condemnation of AIB's decision to remove ATMs and stop accepting cash transactions at 70 of its 170 branches. Picture: Leah Farrell/Rolling News
AIB is to meet with officials from the Department of An Taoiseach in the coming days over its decision to remove cash services from 70 of its 170 branches.
The bank has also been contacted by the Oireachtas finance committee to face questions over the move, which has been labelled as outrageous by committee chairman John McGuinness.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, speaking in Singapore, also called on the bank to reconsider its decision, which has sparked protests and condemnation.
AIB already has 22 cashless branches. The bank said that the expansion of cashless outlets, which is set to come into force from September, would free up the branches for services such as opening new accounts, mortgages, loans, and financial planning.
"It’s outrageous and another example of the arrogance of the pillar banks that were bailed out by the people of this country," Mr McGuinness said:
Mr Martin said: “I think the banks are part of society. They’ve got obligations as well in terms of the social contract and understand the changing patterns in banking and how different generations are approaching banking in different ways.
“We are moving towards a more cashless society. But, that said, there are significant cohorts of people, businesses, and towns across Ireland who need this facility.
"And I do believe the banks should take notice of this. And certainly, we will engage with the banks on that,” he said.
The Taoiseach had been called on by a group of Kerry councillors to intervene in the situation, with fears cited that some people would have to travel 70km for cash services.
“I think they need to consider the people who have been loyal," he said.
"Some customers have been with the bank down through the years particular, more senior generations. And I think the economics for many times is a factor as well. And I do believe there should reflect and reconsider the scale of what they’re doing.”
A series of protests at AIB branches in Kerry kicked off in Kenmare yesterday amid huge anger at cuts to services and calls by local representatives to the public to voice their concern and to boycott the bank.
There are calls also for the GAA to ditch AIB as sponsors.
On Thursday morning, the Kenmare Marketing and Events Group staged their protest outside the AIB branch in the town where the branch manager is the former Kerry footballer, Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper.
Mr Cooper is currently on annual leave.
From September 30, AIB branches in Castleisland, Caherciveen, Dingle, Kenmare, and Killorglin will all become cashless.
The IFA is among the groups to have hit out at the decision, which will see 40% of branches no longer offering cash and cheque services
IFA farm business national chairwoman Rose Mary McDonagh said the banking sector is again abandoning the farming community and rural Ireland.
“At what point does a bank become irrelevant? AIB must be sailing close to the wind at this stage for Irish farmers and rural dwellers,” Ms McDonagh said.
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