The branch in Freckenfeld remains closed: Wochen service lesson starts!

The branch in Freckenfeld remains closed: Wochen service lesson starts!

The VR Bank Südpfalz has announced that the branch in Freckenfeld is no longer reopened. The decisive reason for this step is considerable damage caused by an ATM blast on July 19, 2024. This decision was made in November 2024 when the bank decided to reopen due to the high renovation costs. This ends an era for the local infrastructure, which has now recorded a noticeable loss of banking services.

In order to give customers access to banking services, VR Bank Südpfalz plans a weekly service hour in Freckenfeld from Friday, February 7th. This takes place every Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the local mayor's room in the steam noodle gate passage. During this time, customers can pick up cash, make consulting appointments, make transfers and ask questions about payment transactions. Mobodying cash is possible until Thursday afternoon on 06341 55600. In addition, the consulting room was renovated and the bank provided the local community with the furniture of the old branch free of charge. Regional director Christian Bauchhenß will personally be present at the first appointment, which signals to the customer that the bank is still interested in its community despite the closure.

context of the ATM blasts

The closure of the branch in Freckenfeld is not the only event that is in the context of the security situation of ATMs. ATM blasts are increasingly a central political topic in Germany and affect financial institutions in particular near the border. In 2022, a maximum value was reached with almost 500 explosions. Federal states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The perpetrators are often assigned to organized crime, and it turns out that prevention and combating this crime requires the close cooperation between criminal authorities and banks. For example, the state government in Lower Saxony exerts pressure on banks and savings banks to ensure effective measures against ATM blasts. Marco Schulz from the cooperative association criticized public allocations and instead demands a constructive dialogue between all affected actors.

Current developments and review

Latest statistics show that in 2023 461 tried and completed ATM blasts were registered, which represents a decrease of 7.1 percent compared to 2022. Nevertheless, the prey was 28.4 million euros in the blasting. Almost 90 percent of these acts were carried out with fixed explosive substances, whereby the perpetrators' willingness to violate remains high. A significant part of the suspects come from abroad, especially from the Netherlands, which underlines the international dimension of the problem.

The security situation around ATMs remains highly topical. Suggestions to improve security, such as the use of coloring and adhesive systems, are to be implemented by the end of 2025. For this purpose, a broad dialogue has already taken place among the parties involved to ensure the safety of the machines and to strengthen confidence in cash supply.

In this alarming context, VR Bank Südpfalz is proactively with its new service hour in Freckenfeld and ensures that customers can continue to use the necessary banking services without a regular branch.

For more information about these developments, you can report the reports on Rheinpfalz.de, Geno- and bka.de Read.