AIB’s decision to reverse plans to make 70 of its branches cashless, is a win for rural Ireland.
That’s according to members of Kerry community groups, who’d hit out at the plans.
From September 30th, AIB branches in Castleisland, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Kenmare and Killorglin were all due to become cashless, as well as the Abbeyfeale branch.
In a statement, the bank says it recognises the unease that it caused.
The news that the AIB has reversed its decision has been widely welcomed in Kerry.
Alan Landers of the ACCARD community development group and a B&B owner in Cahersiveen says it’s a victory for rural Ireland.
He says it’s great to see the decision to scrap the cashless plans was made so quickly:
Chair of Killorglin’s Men’s Sheds, John Healy believes the strong rural backlash to AIB’s plans to go cashless, paid off:
Meanwhile, Kerry Mental Health Association is also welcoming AIB’s reversal of its decision to end cash services at five of its branches in the county.
General manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey says measures must now be put in place to ensure there’s no further erosion of bank services in Kerry.
He says the mental wellbeing of people in rural parts of the county has been tested enough over recent years due to COVID-19, inflation, and the continuing growth of rural isolation.
