ATMs get the go-ahead in strath after closure of last High Street bank
ATMs have been approved both in Aviemore and Grantown which will help with the supply of cash after the closure of the last High Street bank in the strath.
Confirmation is still awaited from the Bank of Scotland over what permanent facility there will be - beyond the community banker who will be at the Macdonald Resort on Thursdays between 10am and 3pm.
But Highland Council planning officers have approved the installation of a cash machine at the long-vacant Hydro shop at 2 High Street for Euronet Worldwide.
The ‘hole in the wall’ will be pavement-facing, free to use and available 24/7 once it is in place.
Bill Sadler, of the Grantown Society which is aiming to provide the Strathspey capital with its own community hub, told the Strathy it was a very welcome development.
“The Co-op ATM was out of action again at the weekend but soon the Hub ATM will be in place.
“The Hub itself will be open just as soon as that, too, gets the go-ahead from planners. There of course still much to do and more funding required.”
At Aviemore, seven major banks have come together as Cash Access UK to implement a new deposit machine to provide cash and deposit services inside the Convenience Store Ltd, Best-one, at 168 Grampian Road.
The deposit machine, which has been set up in partnership with Notemachine, a leading provider of ATMs and is connected to the LINK ATM network.
It will offer easy access to cash services such as withdrawals, balance enquiries, PIN management to customers of all major banks.
The service also offers free cash deposits to customers of Barclays, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank with more banks to be added soon.
The deposit machine is one of a number of solutions being trialled by Cash Access UK to improve deposit services.
Alongside Banking Hubs, which provide basic cash and face-to-face services to personal and business banking customers, LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, has also recommended ‘deposit solutions’ in locations such as Aviemore, where there is a lack of cash services for business banking customers.
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK told the Strathy: “Access to deposit-taking ATMs is vital for cash reliant UK consumers struggling to access basic banking services and it’s just as important that businesses who accept cash can bank it too.
Top Stories
“We’re pleased to be able to bring this service to residents and local businesses in Aviemore.”
Steve Makaritis, CEO of NoteMachine added: “NoteMachine’s deposit innovation in collaboration with Cash Access UK and LINK, has delivered the first LINK deposit solution, offering banks and financial institutions utility banking at their fingertips.
“Deposit services primarily support small businesses, where there is a higher demand for retailers to be able to deposit takings, or in places where there are no longer bank branches.
“From a consumer point of view, our deposit functionality gives more choice around access to cash.”
