RBS must abandon cash machine changes – Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has called on the part-nationalised bank RBS to abandon plans that would see thousands of customers unable to use cash machines operated by other banks.

It has been confirmed that existing customers with “basic” accounts are set to lose access to all ATMs except those operated by RBS. Opponents of this move have argued that the change will have a disproportionate impact on poorer customers.  The “basic” account, which offers access to a limited range of services, is often used by people on lower incomes as it does not require a credit check before it is set up.

Consumer group Which? have estimated that customers could lose access to around 80 per cent of the free cash machines in the UK.

Mr Carmichael said: “RBS needs to understand that public money comes with a public obligation. Rural Scotland has a long tradition of banking with RBS. It also has a high proportion of people in part-time work and on low and fixed incomes.

“These are the people for whom every penny matters, and the people who will be hit hardest by this arbitrary and discriminatory decision. RBS must change their mind.”