Community welcomes new ATM in Efail Isaf

Efail Isaf near Pontypridd has a new free to use ATM thanks to LINK, the UK’s main ATM network, as part of an initiative which supports communities who need access to cash. 

Mick Antoniw MS visited the site of the new ATM on Friday (15^th October) with local residents to open the machine. 

The ATM request came from the local community after the village’s Post Office and cash machine closed last year. This meant that residents would need to take public transport to nearby Llantwit Fadre, which was not always the easiest journey for elderly residents or those reliant on public transport. The previous closure also affected the village store, village hall and local pub.

After visiting and investigating the area, LINK agreed to install a free to use ATM and this week installed a brand new free to use cash machine at the Village Store.

Nick Quin, Head of Financial Inclusion, LINK: “We’re delighted that we’re able to support people in Efail Isaf. Access to cash is still important for many and with the free to use ATM and Post Office closing over a year ago, residents were having to travel a distance to access cash. We’ve installed 11 new ATMs in Wales so far, but if there’s anyone who lives across Wales who thinks their community has a similar access to cash then we want to hear from you.”

Local resident, Joan Smith: “Our local shop is at the heart of the community and the installation of the new cash machine, together with the introduction of a Monday Post Office mobile counter service are further good reasons to shop locally. Well done to the shop owners Raji and Krish, our local Member of Senedd and to LINK for making this happen.” 

Member of Senedd, Mick Antoniw: “Whilst we are living in an increasingly cashless society, many people continue to use cash extensively. Easy access to cash however, is not always straightforward, particularly with the disappearance of more banks on our high streets. That’s why I’m delighted to have worked with LINK and supported local residents and the new owners of the Efail Isaf community shop to help provide this new cashpoint facility. It further establishes Efail Isaf’s local shop at the centre of the community, whether you rely on heavily on cash or are a more occasional user.”

Co-owner of the Efail Isaf community shop, Raji Marappan: “We’ve already had many customers making use of the new free cash machine and we hope that it will bring new customers into our community shop.  Many people don’t know that shop owners are charged for transactions where cards are ‘tapped’, so as well as benefitting customers by giving access to cash with no charges, using cash is also a big benefit to shopkeepers.”  

 

Efail Isaf is the 11^th Welsh location to receive a new ATM through LINK’s financial inclusion fund.  More than 70 communities have benefited from LINK’s community request initiative. Any person can apply if they believe their local community has an issue with accessing cash. LINK will investigate the request and if they feel there is a problem, visit a location and look to install a new machine.