Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
In Austria, 317 municipalities do not have one ATMs in town, according to a survey by the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) from the end of 2021. But these communities – most of them in Burgenland – should now also be able to have ATMs, said the federal banking and insurance division of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ).
The local banks offer communities this opportunity through their joint company, Payment Service Austria (PSA). ATMs at a cost price of just under 17,000 euros per year. In the summer there was talk of around 25,000 euros.
“Whether electronically, card or cash – people in Austria decide how they pay,” said Franz Rudorfer, managing director of the WKÖ federal division. With this offer, the Austrian banks would once again emphasize the importance of freedom of choice when paying in the discussion about future payments, the digital euro and access to cash. Because: “Paying is a fundamental process in our daily lives; choosing the form of payment is also a piece of freedom,” added Rudorfer.
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