Respect The Cash!

Strings attached…

n a move that will be highly welcomed if hardly surprising, AIB have today scrapped plans to go cashless at 70 branches nationwide.

The backlash from Greystonians alone might have just been enough to tell them that this was not a smart move.

There was a political outcry too, with Jennifer Whitmore TD one of the first to speak out against the shock decision. And now, today’s reversal has politicians pretty much celebrating, with our own Cllr Stephen Stokes telling the Guide, “I welcome the change of heart by AIB. A bank without cash would be like a restaurant with no food.”

Indeed. The Taoiseach has also welcomed today’s decision by AIB as “the right one“, whilst denying that the government had been asleep at the wheel.

“The bank makes its own decisions,” he said, speaking from Singapore, “but it would normally give itself an indication to the Department of Finance a move of this significance.” Which didn’t happen in this case. Given that the State owns 71% of the bank, Martin now reckons having a veto would be a good idea.

On a roll, young Stokes concluded, “The AIB has a proud history of branch service in Greystones.

“Hopefully we can put all this behind us…”