Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore has written to AIB calling on them to reopen cash services at their branch in Blessington. The Blessington bank was one of the first AIB branches to remove cash services and was not included in AIB’s July 2022 announcement that they would reverse their decision for 70 branches to go cashless.
Deputy Whitmore said:
“Following the closure of the Blessington Ulster Bank branch last Friday, AIB is now the only bank in the town and I am calling on them to reintroduce cash services at this branch as a matter of urgency. At the moment customers must travel 12.7km to the AIB branch in Naas in order to avail of cash services.
“The decision to remove cash services from the Blessington AIB branch has disproportionately impacted vulnerable customers, who may not be in a position to deal in a digital economy or make the journey to Naas, especially as there is no regular public transport service between the two towns. The local economy has also been impacted by the lack of cash services in the town. “
Whitmore went on to say:
“The trend of centralising bank services has been happening for a number of years now and disproportionately impacts our rural areas. Places like West Wicklow in particular, have been impacted by unilateral moves made by banks who decide to change their banking model. It is time that these banks put communities first and supported their customers in a practical way by providing cash services.”
