Denny chosen to participate in Community Access to Cash Pilot

The term ‘cashless society’ has become a common phrase given the way money can so easily change hands – metaphorically – in the modern day.
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Technological advancements have enabled us to pay for shopping at the touch of a button, while the rise of online banking has resulted in the closure of several branches throughout the country.

Yet, for those who live and work in certain parts of the UK, accessing their hard-earned money is far from a simple process.

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One area which falls into that category is Denny, where residents and business owners are no longer able to walk into a bank and where there is a limited availability of cashpoints.

Difficulties with accessing cash in Denny have led to the town being selected for a national pilot scheme. Picture: Michael Gillen.Difficulties with accessing cash in Denny have led to the town being selected for a national pilot scheme. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Difficulties with accessing cash in Denny have led to the town being selected for a national pilot scheme. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The good news for the town is it has been chosen as one of just eight locations across Britain to participate in trials aimed at addressing the challenges of improving cash access and acceptance.

A Community Access to Cash Pilot (CACP) initiative has been launched to allow communities to work with the banking industry to identify sustainable solutions so cash is viable for individuals and businesses.

Also among the successful communities which applied to participate is Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire.

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Sites were chosen based on location, the issues the communities faced, the strength of their submission and commitment to the pilot.

The pilot follows a recent report from UK Finance which reveals cash use now represents less than one-quarter (23%) of all payments in the UK, a 15 per cent drop year-on-year.

These numbers were taken before the coronavirus crisis with LINK, the UK’s main cash machine network, and showed a 60 per cent year-on-year fall in volumes during the early part of the lockdown.

As part of the pilot, firms in Denny will now receive help in accepting and banking money, which will in turn ensure people can get their hands on cash.

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The CACP project will be overseen by Louise Hay, of Denny Community Support Group, and it will collaborate with Falkirk Council to ensure the right infrastructure is in place, with education and support on digital inclusion also provided.

New and existing financial services providers are set to play an important part in the process too in order for the creation of innovative solutions to meet needs.

The resources and expertise of the financial services industry will be combined with those of an Access to Review panel which will work closely with a range of consumer groups and charities to support the work.

Denny’s inclusion in the CACP initiative has been welcomed by Councillor Jim Blackwood, who said:

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“This is all about accessing cash by both business and public and I would think that fairly relevant in the current situation where many retailers and businesses are asking for card payments as a first preference and in some cases card payments only.

“There are no longer any banks sited within the Denny, the Banknock ward being the nearest in Falkirk.

“Banks closing cashpoints does not help either. Cash back in shops is fine, however, this requires a purchase within the premises.

“This must be a welcome exercise to highlight the problems some people experience accessing cash.”

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Falkirk Council is also planning to use the initiative and its findings to help those in need.

A spokeswoman for the local authority said: “Falkirk Council welcomes the Community Access to Cash pilot in Denny and the support that this can provide to that community.

“Our poverty strategy, Towards a Fairer Falkirk 2019-2024, highlights access to appropriate financial products and services as a key part of our strategy, under our Fairer Money theme and we would be delighted to include Community Access to Cash as part of the work in that area.”

Natalie Ceeney, CACP chairwoman, said: “Over the past decade we’ve seen a massive shift from cash to digital payments, and Covid-19 has accelerated that trend further.

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“But we know that digital payments don’t yet work for everyone, and for many individuals and communities, cash remains essential.

“But the world is changing — we can’t just magic back our old bank branch and ATM infrastructure.

“Instead, we need to use innovation to develop new solutions as well as harness tried and tested approaches to meet people’s needs.

“We’ve selected communities which all have a cash need, but which face different challenges.

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“Some locations may need an ATM or a place for retailers to deposit cash locally, others may look for a shared bank branch or a means to improve digital skills.

“Our aim is both to support communities right now, and also to learn lessons for sustainable solutions which can be used more widely across the UK, particularly as the government considers legislation to support the cash infrastructure.”

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