The Ministry of Economy and the banking They plan to present at the next days -in principle in the remainder of the week or the beginning of the next- the action plan in which they have been working for months to improve access to financial services basics in the Spain emptied. The main point that remains to be closed is how they are installed cashiers automatic in the 243 municipalities of more than 500 inhabitants (with about 211,000 inhabitants) that at the end of last year did not have no access road straight to cash. The financial sector plans to propose to the Government that it be done through public competitionsas confirmed by EL PERIÓDICO.
Financial sources point out that the department he heads Nadia Calvino conveyed to the sector some time ago that prefer a solution that happens to install white label ATMswithout the ensign of any specific entity, and paid for all the banks based on your market share. Entities have explored complying with this request through the payment method services company Redsys. However, this alternative did not like to some banks, particularly among the largest and most extensive networkso the sector plans to finally propose to Economy that it be done through public tenders.
The argument of these entities is that, since they have to assume the costit is fair that they can put your mark. Coordinated through their employers AEB, CECA and UNACCthe sector is finalizing the last details of his proposal, but the idea is to suggest that for a few six months contests are called, following the model long applied in communities autonomous as the Valencian. They also offer that, if after that period any of the 243 municipalities is left uncovered (something they consider unlikely due to their low number), a white label cashier.
cost sharing
Another relevant point is the cost sharing installation and maintenance of ATMs. The bank wants the public sector (either the State, or the Affected Provincial Councils or Town Councils) assume part of said cost and at least guarantees the availability of a adequate physical spacethe connections to the necessary technological infrastructures (such as Internet) and compliance with the security requirements essential. In the industry, however, there certain doubts of which economy go to accept the proposed formula for installing the ATMs and the distribution of the cost.
The works are being finalized in the technical levels of employers and with those of the ministry, but it is expected that the plan will be announced after a meeting between the vice president Calvino and those responsible for employers: Alejandra Kindelan (AEB), Jose Maria Mendez (ECSC) and Cristina Freijanes (UNACC). At first it was going to be this Tuesday, but it was postponed. At the meeting, the minister also wants to discuss with the sector the situation of the mortgaged after the rise in the Euribor, for whom Economy is already studying possible support measures for the most vulnerable.
1.4% of the population
According to a study presented by employers before the summer and entrusted to Joaquin Maudos (professor of economic analysis at the University of Valencia and deputy director of research at the Ivie), the 54.4% of the municipalities Spaniards (4,422), where 3.3% of the population resides (1,555,688 inhabitants), it does not count with Bank branch, although with some other physical access route to the most basic services (such as ATMs, ‘ofibuses’ or the Post Office network). On the other hand the 39.7% of the municipalities (3,230) and 1.4% of the population (657,557 Spaniards) does not have access to cashwith data from the end of 2021.
The plan finalized by the sector and Economy focuses on the latter group. The municipalities that do not have any point of access to banking services are very small size (only 204 inhabitants on average, compared to 9,968 in the rest of the municipalities), with a very low population density (6.1 inhabitants per km2 compared to 117.8) and of character mostly rural (99.3% are, compared to 73.3% of the rest). The problem is concentrated in provinces such as Zamora, Salamanca, Palencia, León, Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Ávila, Cuenca, Segovia, lleidaValladolid, Navarra, Cáceres, Huesca, Teruel and Girona.
Measures
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In addition to the installation of ATMs in municipalities with more than 500 inhabitants (at first the bank proposed it in those with more than 700), the plan includes measures such as expanding the fleet of own mobile offices (the so-called ‘ofibuses’); increase the number of financial agents (person or company acting on behalf of a credit institution without belonging to it); and reach more cash back dealsthat is, cash withdrawal in commercial establishments such as gas stations and pharmacies.
Likewise, as this newspaper advanced, the sector reached before the summer a agreement with Post to make its service available to entities Cash Post Officewhich allows cash withdrawals and deposits in the 4,675 service points And through 6,000 rural postmen of the public postal company.