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On May 18, 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) submitted its perspective to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding the Australian Banking Association's (ABA) application for authorisation to conduct a Regional ATM Trial. The RBA, as the sole issuer of banknotes in Australia, supports the trial in principle, which proposes installing or converting 20 ATMs in regional and remote areas over five years with fee-free withdrawal services for all Australian-issued card holders. The RBA emphasises that cash remains a critical component of an inclusive and resilient payment system. According to the 2025 Consumer Payments Survey, approximately 15 percent of consumer payments involve cash, and around one-third of Australians would face hardship if unable to withdraw cash. Access to cash is particularly vulnerable in regional areas, where the average distance to bank-owned ATMs has increased from 9 kilometres in 2019 to 12 kilometres by 2025. In outer regional areas, residents must travel up to 38 kilometres, while those in remote and very remote areas face distances of 94 and 349 kilometres respectively. The number of bank branches has declined by approximately half since 2011, with over one-third of closures occurring in regional and remote Australia since 2017. The RBA identifies several considerations for the trial's success. The availability of deposit functionality is crucial, particularly for businesses requiring cash deposit and withdrawal services. The RBA encourages trial participants to expand multi-bank deposit capabilities at as many locations as practicable. Additionally, the RBA notes that evaluation methods and reporting requirements will be essential to understanding the trial's feasibility and public benefit. The RBA has agreed to serve as an observer on the Regional ATM Trial Coordination Committee and is prepared to support assessment of banknote quality implications throughout the trial period.