Access to Cash

Decorative image. ATM machine displaying a number of €50 notes

Central Bank of Ireland is committed to ensuring that cash is readily available as a means of payment. Our Strategy states that we aim to promote the provision of choice and access to payment instruments in Ireland, including cash and electronic payments.

The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 grants new powers to the Central Bank and provides for the continued provision of sufficient and effective access to cash infrastructure for individuals and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland.

This legislation commences with effect from 30 June 2025.

What is the Access to Cash legislation?

The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 ensures continued access to cash services throughout Ireland and protects the resilience of the cash system. It provides for this in a number of ways:

  • Certain credit institutions – referred to as “designated entities” – are required to maintain the cash infrastructure network at certain minimum levels, which will be prescribed by the Minister for Finance. This is to ensure that any further evolution of the cash infrastructure is managed in a fair, orderly, transparent and equitable manner for all stakeholders.
  • The Central Bank will have powers to monitor compliance by the designated entities with the requirements in the Act and to require remediation by them of any instances of non-compliance.
  • Where a member of the public believes that there is, or is likely to be, a deficiency in access to cash in their locality, they can make a submission to the Central Bank. We will then determine if there is a local deficiency, and designated entities will be responsible for addressing identified deficiencies.
  • The Central Bank will set service standards that will apply to ATM operators.
  • The Central Bank will oversee the registration of ATM deployers and cash-in-transit (CIT) providers.

How will the Act ensure there is sufficient access to cash infrastructure?

The Minister has specified the access to cash criteria to ensure that individuals and SMEs have reasonable and effective access to “cash services”. These criteria will apply in respect of each NUTS 3 region in the State (namely Border, West, Mid-West, South-East, South-West, Dublin, Mid-East, Midlands) in line with the following:

  • There is a minimum percentage of the population that must be within 5-10 kilometres of an ATM
  • There is a minimum number of ATMs that should be available per 100,000 people in the region concerned
  • There is a minimum percentage of the population concerned that must be within 5-10 kilometres of a cash service point.

The criteria came into effect on 28 November 2025.

A “cash service point” is a location at which cash services are provided by, or on behalf of, a designated entity. “Cash services” are a service whereby cash (banknotes and coins) may be deposited and withdrawn by individuals and SMEs and where in-person assistance is available.

What is the Central Bank’s role?

The Central Bank is responsible for monitoring compliance by designated entities with the defined criteria. If we identify non-compliance – i.e. any region where the access to cash criteria level falls below the thresholds set by the Minister– we will notify the designated entities and, if necessary, take measures such as issuing directions to ensure compliance with the criteria.

We also have a role in reviewing the criteria, either on our own initiative, at the request of the Minister, or in response to changes such as a significant drop in cash demand or new census data, and to advise the Minister if we believe that adjustments to the criteria are required.  

Designated entities

The Act provides a mechanism for designating credit institutions (such as banks and credit unions), which meet certain conditions. Designated entities are responsible for ensuring compliance with the access to cash criteria and local deficiency requirements (see below). The Minister for Finance has set these conditions (i.e. entities are designated based on having a minimum share of current and deposit account business in the State).

We will formally designate credit institutions that meet these conditions and will keep this under review each quarter to ensure that additional credit institutions are designated if they meet the conditions. Conversely, credit institutions will no longer be designated if they cease to meet the conditions.

Local deficiencies

While the access to cash criteria for each NUTS3 region is intended to ensure ongoing sufficient and effective access to cash, the Act also provides for the identification of local deficiencies – i.e. in certain areas where particular difficulties in accessing cash may still arise.

The Act provides relevant examples such as:

  • The number of people affected
  • The location of cash infrastructure
  • The demand for cash
  • Travel and geographic factors
  • Demographics and financial inclusion.

From 1 July 2026, the Central Bank will be responsible for reviewing notifications from the public where they believe insufficient access to cash services may exist in an area.   We will review a range of relevant factors to determine if a local deficiency exists.

We have published a Consultation Paper to seek feedback from interested members of the public and relevant stakeholders on the draft guidelines. This open public consultation period will run from 5 December 2025 until 4 March 2026.

Provide feedback to our consultation paper.

ATM service standards

In 2026, we will publish regulations outlining requirements for ATM operators to:

  • Notify the Central Bank of proposed changes to their business that alter the scope of their services
  • Notify ATM users in advance of any planned changes to their business.

The regulations will also set out the service standards relating to the hours of ATM availability, cash withdrawal limits, banknote denomination stocking, maximum ATM unavailability periods, and signage and information requirements.

We have published a Consultation Paper to seek feedback from interested stakeholders on the proposed regulations that will apply to ATM operators. This open public consultation period will run from 5 December 2025 until 4 March 2026.

Provide feedback to our consultation paper.

Registration and oversight of ATM deployers and cash-in-transit companies

The Act recognises that ATM deployers and CITs play an important role in ensuring access to cash and supporting the national cash cycle respectively.  Under the Act, the Central Bank has responsibility for registering and overseeing ATM deployers and cash-in-transit (CIT) providers. 

Data collection and publication

Under the Act, the Central Bank has powers to collect and publish information relating to the cash infrastructure across the State.

From early 2026, we will – on a quarterly basis – publish the number, location and hours of availability of ATMs and cash service points in each of the NUTS3 regions of Ireland (namely Border, West, Mid-West, South-East, South-West, Dublin, Mid-East, Midlands).