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STATEMENT |
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| 1 December 2004 |
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| CAMPAIGN GROUP CALLS FOR A SHARED APPROACH TO CASH MACHINES | |
| Powerful Evidence To Treasury Committee Inquiry | |
| In its submission to the Cash Machine Charges Inquiry being conducted by the Treasury Select Committee, the Campaign for Community Banking Services (CCBS) gives the “all clear” for charging in “super convenience” locations such as pubs, clubs, and neighbourhood stores, but calls on the big banks to take joint responsibility for maintaining universal free access to a cash machine in disadvantaged rural and urban communities which lose their bank branches or have opening hours severely cut. Derek French, Hon Director of CCBS says: “It’s time for the banks to stop resisting the shared approach to serving communities where, individually, they can no longer provide an adequate banking service. For ATMs, as well as branch counters, a solution is available and they have a social duty to take it up.” CCBS’s evidence claims that abolition of fees in 2000 has led to further diminution of free access to cash in rural areas in particular and highlights the over provision of machines in town centres at the expense of servicing local communities and the more vulnerable in society such as the elderly and disabled with restricted mobility. In the light of a forecast of 1800 branch closures 2005-2010, CCBS calls on government to push the banks to engage constructively with consumer groups in pursuing the shared banking approach to branches and free ATM provision in communities disadvantaged by the blunt result of market forces. Contact |