cash - Neighbourhood Retailer

107 Danske Bank ATMs in Northern Ireland bought over by Pivotal

Linda Stewart — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:47:38 +0000

Cash management company Pivotal has acquired 107 Danske Bank ATMs across Northern Ireland.

The NI-based cash and transactional management company bought Danske Bank’s non-branch ATM network for an undisclosed sum. Danske Bank will still own and operate 85 ATMs located at its branches.

Pivotal’s – formerly known as RMS Group Services – services include cash and valuables in transit, cash processing, coin and note supply, foreign exchange and merchant services as well as ATM services, and has been in operation for over 17 years.

Chief Executive Officer of Pivotal Rónán Harper said the acquisition of the ATMs ensures communities has access to cash.

“Our priority now is to ensure a smooth transition and that consumers benefit from the same high level of reliability and service,” he added.

Vicki Hassan, Operations Director at Danske Bank, said: “We remain committed to serving our customers through a wide variety of options and we continue to invest in both our branch network and our digital channels.

“To invest and grow we must also continually look for ways to simplify our operating model.

“This decision will allow us to further support the business by freeing up time and resource to focus more efforts on our core banking activities.

“We’re pleased to have found in Pivotal a local specialist provider with strong experience in owning and managing ATMs and who can therefore ensure a continued high level of service and ATM availability for consumers across Northern Ireland.”

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Man claiming to be armed with gun escapes with cash from Armagh petrol station

Linda Stewart — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:27:32 +0000

A man made off from a Co Armagh petrol station with cash after claiming to be armed with a gun during a robbery incident.

Police said the incident took place at the service station in the Moy Road area of Armagh during the afternoon of Thursday September 1.

The man is understood to have demanded cash from staff at the station before making off and was then seen getting into a black jeep vehicle after leaving the petrol station.

A PSNI appeal was issued following the incident.

PSNI Inspector Mills said: “At approximately 4.35pm we received a report that a man, claiming to be armed with a gun had entered the premises and threatened staff.

“He demanded that they hand over cash before making off.

“The man is described as being approximately six feet tall, of thin build and spoke with a local accent.

“He was wearing a navy coloured coat, black jogging bottoms and a snood.

“He was seen getting into a black Shogun jeep, with a wheel on the back with no rear license plate and the front one taped up.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, have any footage or information that could assist with enquiries, to contact police on101 quoting reference 724 of 02/09/22.”

Reports can also be made via the PSNI’s non-emergency reporting form. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

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People return to cash as prices rise: Post Office

Linda Stewart — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:41:23 +0000

People are going back to cash to keep tighter control on their spending as living costs soar, according to new research by the Post Office.

Post offices handled £801m in personal cash withdrawals in July, the most since records began five years ago. That’s up more than 20% from July 2021.

Natalie Ceeney, chair of the Cash Action Group, said it showed people are “literally counting the pennies” as they grapple with rising prices.

Prices are currently rising faster than they have for 40 years. The increase in the cost of living is putting a squeeze on people’s finances, as incomes fail to keep up.

In total, £3.32bn in cash was deposited and withdrawn at Post Office counters in July, £100m higher than in June.

Personal cash withdrawals, at £801m, were up almost 8% month-on-month and up more than 20% year-on-year.

It is the highest amount since records began five years ago, and only the second time that personal cash withdrawals have exceeded £800m. The last time was December 2021, and there’s always an increase in withdrawals around that time of year, the Post Office said.

The Post Office put the extra volume of withdrawals at its 11,500 branches down to more people turning to cash to help manage their budgets on a week-by-week and often a day-by-day basis.

It also said it was partly due to more people choosing to have staycations, with recent research by the Post Office finding that 71% of Brits planning on going on holiday in the UK this year intended to take out cash before leaving.

Martin Kearsley, banking director at the Post Office, said: “We’re seeing more and more people increasingly reliant on cash as the tried and tested way to manage a budget.

“Whether that’s for a staycation in the UK or if it’s to help prepare for financial pressures expected in the autumn, cash access in every community is critical.”

Cash deposits also rose, according to the research.

Individuals deposited £1.35bn in cash in July, up 2% month-on-month, while cash deposits for businesses totalled £1.13bn, up 1.9% from a month earlier.

Mr Kearsley said the figures showed Britain is “anything but a cashless society”.

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Queen’s Speech should have gone further, say independent retailers

Linda Stewart — Tue, 10 May 2022 14:47:56 +0000

The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has welcomed action on access to cash, the levelling up agenda, business rates and crime that were proposed in the Queen’s Speech but warns the devil is in the detail.

Commenting, The Fed’s National President Narinder Randhawa said: “We are pleased to see that the government shares the concerns of independent retailers around access to cash, business rates, crime and regenerating high streets and we urge it to tackle these issues with the energy and priority they deserve.”

“As well as wanting the government to move quickly, it is vital that it works with trade associations like The Fed regarding the detail to ensure that small businesses get the help and support they deserve.”

However, Mr Randhawa has expressed disappointment at the lack of support for small businesses who are struggling amid soaring bills.

“This year has seen huge increases in overheads and operating costs, threatening local shops who are the beating hearts of their communities. We are disappointed that measures to help ease the burden on hard-pressed independent retailers have been missed out of the Queen’s Speech and would urge the government to look at these as a matter of urgency.”

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