Cash in the crisis: ATMs disappear - what now?
Cash in the crisis: ATMs disappear - what now?
Care supply in Germany faces a change that affects the Werra-Meißner-Kreis in particular. According to hna , access to cash is increasingly being adopted by retail. While the number of ATMs in the country continuously drops, supermarkets and other retailers who offer cashback systems take on a central role in cash supply.
currently Germany has around 51,000 ATMs, which represents a striking decline compared to over 59,000 in 2018. There are only around two dozen ATMs in the Werra-Meißner district. The Sparkasse Werra-Meißner has the most machines with eleven locations, followed by VR-Bank Mitte with six SB machines. Banks like Deutsche Bank and Postbank have no single ATMs in the district.
cashback as an alternative
Several retailers, including Aldi, Edeka, Lidl and Rewe, offer the opportunity to withdraw cash at the cash register. This cashback system allows the desired amount to be included when purchasing. Buyers usually have to achieve a certain minimum amount in order to be able to withdraw cash. The fees for cash expenses are often borne by the dealer and are between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of the amount paid out.
Although access to cash in Germany is largely secured, there are regional differences. The majority of the population can reach an ATM or bank switch within five kilometers. According to Living 95.3 % of people from a cash resort removed.
In addition, the analysis shows that the average distance to an ATM is around 1.4 kilometers; The return trip to the next withdrawal takes an average of six minutes. The situation is cheaper in urban areas, since most residents have to cover less than a kilometer to the next withdrawal source.
a changing landscape
Access to cash is made more difficult by the closure of bank branches and the decline in the ATMs. It is reported that 57.7 % of the population has to cover the highest one kilometer to a bank switch or ATM. Nevertheless, the proportion of citizens who find access to ATMs increased from 6 % in 2021 to 15 % in 2023.
The banks made location closings, especially in 2023 and 2024, since the frequency of customers has decreased. The pandemic has strengthened this trend and accelerated the departure from cash. Experts warn that this could lead to an aggravation of access for certain population groups in the long term.
Overall, it should be noted that cash supply in Germany is still secured, but a clear change in the accessibility of cash can be observed. The role of retail transactions is becoming increasingly central to meet the needs of the population.
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