The Central Bank of the Netherlands issued a warning aimed at families, recommending that they maintain a small cash reserve at home, enough to ensure essential expenses for three days. The measure aims to prepare the population for emergency situations where electronic payment systems can fail, as written to.
Increasing threats justify preparation
According to the institution, the risk of interruptions in digital payments has increased due to growing geopolitical tension and the possibility of cybers. Technical failures, blackouts and damage to telecommunications networks are scenarios that, according to the Central Bank, should be considered as plausible.
«Think of a blackout, a bank failure or an interruption of the internet service; At these times, payment in cash is almost always possible, ”says the official statement. The goal, underlines the entity, is to ensure that families can access first necessity goods even in the face of a widespread system failure.
Emergency Fund for three days
The amount recommended by the bank should cover basic needs such as food, water, medicines and transportation for a period of 72 hours. The suggested amount varies depending on the composition of the household and should be stored safely, only for use in an emergency situation.
As a reference, the bank indicates 70 euros per adult and 30 euros per child.
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Iberian blackout exposed weaknesses
This alert arises following the blackout recorded on April 28, which affected Spain and Portugal and caused failures at payment terminals, mobile networks and crowns. For several hours, many commercial establishments only accepted physical money, revealing dependence on digital media and the lack of immediate alternatives.
Trade must also be prepared
In addition to consumer guidance guidelines, the Central Bank of the Baixa advises traders to prepare alternative payment solutions, such as scanning QR codes or autonomous equipment, to maintain the activity even in case of conventional point of sale terminals.
Brussels reinforces the importance of self -sufficiency
In line with this recommendation, the European Commission published in March an emergency preparation plan, suggesting that each citizen keep enough provisions for three days, including food, water and a monetary reserve. The document highlights the importance of guaranteeing minimum conditions of autonomy in case of conflicts, natural disasters or generalized technological failures.
In digital systems failure situations, money remains the most reliable alternative to ensure immediate payments. Dutch bank’s recommendation reinforces the importance of preserving physical options in an increasingly digitized context, where the sole dependence of technology can compromise financial security.
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