Universal Free Cash Machines Welcomed

12.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Jan 2007

A leading local Assembly member has today welcomed news from The Post Office announcing plans to install an extra 500 free-to-use cash machines at its branches - on top of the 1,000 it had already committed to roll out within the next five years.

Michael German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly for Wales welcomed the news: "I am particularly pleased to see that the Post Office is working towards withdrawing from cash machine providers who charge large fees to people just to withdraw their cash.

People should be able to access their own money for free

"Recent bad news over the threat to the Post Office network being stripped down is compensated by the news that the network wants to be a provider of a universal free-to-use cash machine network at its branches. This will be good news for communities that have no bank branches and are at present being hit by pay-to-use cash machine charges of at least £1.50 per use."

Speaking on the plans to introduce as many as 10 new free cash machines a week, Mr. German said, "This will compliment the free cash withdrawals available for some bank customers over the counter. However, I am in correspondence with those banks, such as HSBC, who do not have this facility at Post Office counters for their customers.

"I fully support the Post Office's vision to give every bank's customer access to cash free of charge at their local post office branch."