Central Bank of Ireland publishes first access to cash report

https://www.centralbank.ie/news/article/press-release-central-bank-of-ireland-publishes-first-access-to-cash-report-24-february-2026
Success
Service Cash-Based Payment Methods 94% Enforcement - Bank 45%
Specialism Supervision 65% Enforcement - Remedial Action 60%
2026-02-24 14:23:39 · csoo@vixio.com
ID
2903045
GUID
ea6cfefef9c49dda967ad4d05bca85ba

Classification

Service
Cash-Based Payment Methods (94%)

The update directly addresses regulatory requirements for ATM and cash service point access, which is core to cash-based payment methods regulation.

Enforcement - Bank (45%)

Low confidence — requires human review. While the Central Bank's oversight involves prudential considerations, the update focuses on cash infrastructure access rather than bank enforcement actions.

Specialism
Supervision (65%)

The update concerns regulatory oversight and monitoring of cash infrastructure compliance by the Central Bank of Ireland, which aligns with supervisory review activities.

Enforcement - Remedial Action (60%)

The Central Bank's requirement for designated entities to provide remedial proposals for identified shortfalls represents a form of corrective action, though the enforcement element is not yet formalized.

The Central Bank of Ireland has today (24 February) published its first quarterly Access to Cash report. The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 has put in place a framework to ensure sufficient and effective access to cash across the State.

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TITLE: Central Bank of Ireland Publishes First Quarterly Access to Cash Report BODY: On 24 February 2026, the Central Bank of Ireland published its first quarterly Access to Cash report, presenting data on automated teller machine (ATM) and cash service point (CSP) locations and opening hours across eight geographical regions in Ireland as of 31 December 2025. The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 established a framework to ensure sufficient and effective access to cash across Ireland. The Minister for Finance set access to cash criteria in November 2025, which include minimum population proximity requirements (the percentage of the population within 10 kilometres of an ATM or CSP) and minimum ATM capacity per 100,000 people in each region. These criteria aim to maintain cash infrastructure at 2022 levels, accounting for the exits of KBC and Ulster Bank from the market. The report shows Ireland has just over 4,000 ATMs and just over 1,200 CSPs. Overall, cash infrastructure remains largely aligned with the Minister's criteria. However, six instances were identified where criteria are not met, with shortfalls described as small relative to expected levels. The Central Bank has written to designated entities (AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB) to address identified shortfalls, with these firms required to provide proposals within coming weeks. Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros emphasised the Central Bank's commitment to safeguarding cash accessibility for consumers and businesses. From July 2026, individuals can submit concerns to the Central Bank regarding local cash access deficiencies. A public consultation on guidelines for assessing local deficiencies is currently open and closes on 4 March 2026. REFERENCES: Central Bank of Ireland. (24 February 2026). Central Bank of Ireland publishes first access to cash report. https://www.centralbank.ie/news/article/central-bank-of-ireland-publishes-first-access-to-cash-report
  • ✓ Scraped:2026-02-24 14:23:39
  • ✓ Created:2026-02-24 14:23:39
  • ✓ By:csoo@vixio.com (59)