In recent years, several banking institutions have chosen to end counters and reduce the number of ATM boxes, which has made it difficult to lift cash by the population. This change follows the growing bet on digital payment methods, increasingly used over cash.
According to Bundesbank, the central bank of Germany, the availability of paper money in the country is still assured. However, the entity admits that the situation may change in the future, warning of a possible reduction in the ease of access to cash.
Most can still raise money near home
At the moment, most citizens can still raise money with relative ease. “Most of the population has access to an ATM or a bank counter within five kilometers,” says Bundesbank in a statement, according to.
Differences between the countryside and the city are evident
Reality, however, varies depending on the location. In rural areas, about 90.3% of the population can find a lifting point in this radius, while in urban areas the value rises to 98.1%, which reveals a greater impact of reducing services outside large cities.
Closing of services worries residents
The decrease in the number of Calcões and ATM boxes has generated concerns about accessibility to physical money, especially in less populated regions. Bundesbank considers that this trend may be aggravated if measures are not taken.
Bank branches are disappearing from the map
The data reveal a significant drop in the number of German bank branches. In 2002, there were approximately 53,000 counters. In 2023, this number fell to about 21,000, a reduction that reflects the new direction of the commercial board.
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As for the ATM boxes, the evolution was different. After a constant climb, the number of terminals reached peak in 2018, with 59,000 units installed. Since then, the trend has reversed and, by 2023, the total lowered to 51,000.
Supermarkets help smooth system failures
To collect this scarcity, some German supermarkets began to allow cash surveys during shopping. This solution helps, above all, in locations with few or no banking services available.
Explosions and robberies to boxes increased by 2022
Accessibility to cash is not, however, the only challenge. In 2022, Germany registered a worrying number of automatic box robberies, often using explosives. On average, more than one attack per day occurred.
During this year, 496 attempts were accounted for, 413 resulted in successful explosions. The criminals managed to steal about 30 million euros, still causing damage over 13 million in material damage.
New security measures are being applied
Given this reality, the authorities reinforced surveillance and installed new security systems in automatic boxes. These measures aim to lock the climbing of crime linked to the cash and ensure confidence in the system.
Access to money continues, but it is more difficult
Despite the obstacles, Bundesbank ensures that Germans continue to have access to physical money. However, it stresses that this access is becoming more difficult and that it is essential to ensure the financial inclusion of all citizens.
Situation begins to repeat itself in other European countries
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Germany. Also in other countries, such as France, there has been a significant reduction in the number of bank branches and ATM boxes, which raises similar concerns about cash accessibility.
The tendency to privilege digital payments and the closing of counters in less densely populated areas is creating difficulties to a considerable slice of the European population, especially the most aged or less digital literacy.
Digital payments change German habits
Payment digitization has changed consumer habits, reducing dependence on paper money. Still, many continue to prefer cash for reasons such as privacy or spending control.
Balance between innovation and inclusion is essential
Bundesbank argues that there must be a balance between technological innovation and the maintenance of a system that ensures money lifting. The future of the cash in Germany may depend on this conciliation.
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