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ATM emergency: Citizens fight against long distances and high costs!
In the Neunkirchen district, communities are struggling with a shortage of ATMs. New initiatives are intended to improve the cash supply.
ATM emergency: Citizens fight against long distances and high costs!
What is the best way to get cash if there is no ATM in the area? This question concerns many residents in the Neunkirchen district, where the average distance to the nearest ATM is 2.28 kilometers and the average travel time is around 4 minutes and 44 seconds. In some communities, including Altendorf, residents cannot even use an ATM in town, as meinbezirk.at reports.
The mayor of Altendorf, Ulrike Trybus (ÖVP), describes the situation: “The residents have to go to St. Valentin for an ATM, which is acceptable for people’s mobility.” But what about in other communities? In Prigglitz the nearest machines are in Gloggnitz, which requires a journey of over 11 minutes. Head of office Andreas Weinzettl emphasizes that previous discussions about a machine at the municipal office were unsuccessful due to the costs. St. Corona once had an ATM, but it was removed; The residents are now dependent on trips to Kirchberg or Aspang.
The challenges of cash supply
The calls for a better cash supply are getting louder. Raach's mayor Thomas Stranz (ÖVP) sees a new ATM as a big plus for the community, even if the economic viability for the banks remains questionable. Hermann Hauer (ÖVP) emphasizes that the Neunkirchen district is well supplied with ATMs, but recognizes that places like Willendorf and Natschbach-Loipersbach are not taken into account. Jürgen Handler (FPÖ) also warns of the need for an easily accessible cash supply, while Christian Samwald (SPÖ) calls for a program to set up more ATMs in order to increase the quality of life of citizens. Helmut Fiedler (FPÖ) also advocates the preservation and expansion of ATMs in order to secure the freedom of citizens.
The distances and travel times to ATMs in the region vary greatly. Here is an overview:
| Location | Distance (km) | Travel time (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Raach | 6.28 | 10:09 |
| St Corona | 5.70 | 8:08 |
| Altendorf | 4.84 | 9:46 |
| Bürg-Vöstenhof | 4.67 | 8:55 |
| Prigglitz | 4.64 | 11:03 |
A ray of hope for rural communities
The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) and the Austrian Association of Municipalities have set themselves the goal of improving the situation in rural areas: the existing ATMs will be secured by 2029. The plan calls for the installation of up to 120 new ATMs in order to significantly shorten the distance to the issuing devices. There are currently 329 municipalities in Austria that do not have ATMs. In a first phase, 60 new devices will be installed to reach more than a third of these communities. The selection is based on size and distance to the nearest ATM, whereby the municipalities are also obliged to provide suitable space and power supply, as kleinezeitung.at highlights.
In connection with this initiative, the OeNB emphasizes that it will only set up ATMs in municipalities that are not covered by the existing moratorium, which applies until the end of 2029. Another aspect of this agreement is the consideration of higher security standards for ATMs, given the increased threat of ATM explosions.
These measures could significantly promote access to cash in Neunkirchen and other affected regions in the future. According to a survey, 94% of Austrians cannot imagine a world without cash. This makes it all the more important to ensure the supply of cash in rural areas.