RBA warns of surging cash costs as bank access points disappear   :(
A new report has laid bare the grim reality of using cash in Australia, with rising costs to access their own money hitting some groups particularly hard.


News.com.au
September 24, 2025

Australians are using less cash and getting stung for the privilege of withdrawing it, with those living regionally struggling to find anywhere to take out cash for free.   

In its latest payment system board annual report, the RBA points to a surge in costs to use cash.

The large jump in prices follows major banks across Australia closing down their ATMs or branches, limiting the access to physical money.

Australians are paying more just to use cash. 
“The decline in transactional cash usage has been associated with a significant reduction in the number of cash access points – primarily bank-owned ATMs and branches.   :(

As a result, independently owned ATMs, which typically charge fees, have gained a larger share of the ATM market,” the RBA report said.



Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, and Westpac have all signed a moratorium to halt regional branch closures until 2027.

Prior to this, Canstar analysis of APRA data released last year found that 230 bank branches were closed over the 2023-24 financial year, with 1,615 shutting down over five years.   :(

Of that 230, 52 were located in a regional area. The year before, 112 were shut.

The central bank also notes the trend in regional bank closures.


“In particular, there is an increasing number of communities without face-to-face banking services, which disproportionately affects consumers and businesses who rely on in-person support,” the RBA said.

Cash Welcome claims Australians still want access to cash.

Cash Welcome journalist and campaigner Jason Bryce said Australians want to use cash but are struggling to find access points to it.

“Demand for cash depends on our ability to access cash easily and cheaply – and that’s getting more difficult,” he said.

“The value of ATM cash withdrawals made each month in Australia has not fallen, despite a big fall in the number of fee-free (bank-owned) ATMs.”

The Cash Welcome group also says last week the total value of cash circulating in the Australian economy last week was $104.67bn, up from $100.46bn this time last year.

“There has never been more cash on issue in Australia than there is now,” he said.

“There is no evidence to suggest a decline in demand for cash since the end of Covid in Australia.”

In November 2024, the Albanese government unveiled a plan to protect cash as a payment method, calling the legal tender a “lifeline” for many across the country.   

By 2026 the government plans to legislate the use of cash as legal tender on all essential services.   :)

Quote:

“There is no evidence to suggest a decline in demand for cash since the end of Covid in Australia.”

Really? When did it end?

Genuine question. Someone should ask Jason.

If it has ended then what was it that I just had for the past week that showed up as Covid on tests? And many others have had it recently/are still getting it?

Yes the use of cash should be protected, and as they say it is legal tender.  Those that want to use it, should be able to do so.   :(   

It doesn't cost anything to withdraw cash from a Post Office.

And I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure you can withdraw cash for free at Coles and Woolworths checkouts too.

Carl D wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 10:20am:

Quote: “There is no evidence to suggest a decline in demand for cash since the end of Covid in Australia.” Really? When did it end? Genuine question.

Yes, and a good question too.

I know several people who have had COVID in the last month or so.

It hasn't ended at all.

However:

On 20 October 2023, the Australian Chief Medical Officer declared that COVID-19 was no longer a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS) and ended all national emergency response and coordination, shifting COVID-19 management to a more general infectious disease framework.

Carl D wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 10:20am:

Quote: “There is no evidence to suggest a decline in demand for cash since the end of Covid in Australia.” Really? When did it end? Genuine question. Someone should ask Jason. If it has ended then what was it that I just had for the past week that showed up as Covid on tests? And many others have had it recently/are still getting it?

You don't think he might have meant since the Covid lockdowns & restrictions ended?  ::)

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 10:25am:

It doesn't cost anything to withdraw cash from a Post Office. And I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure you can withdraw cash for free at Coles and Woolworths checkouts too.

If anything it will be a charge against your card.

Gnads wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 12:37pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 10:25am: It doesn't cost anything to withdraw cash from a Post Office. And I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure you can withdraw cash for free at Coles and Woolworths checkouts too. If anything it will be a charge against your card.

Not with my bank.

Free withdrawals from EFTPOS, Aust Post and all major ATMs.

Which makes sense, seeing as my bank is 100% online - no branches anywhere :(

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 12:42pm:

Gnads wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 12:37pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 10:25am: It doesn't cost anything to withdraw cash from a Post Office. And I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure you can withdraw cash for free at Coles and Woolworths checkouts too. If anything it will be a charge against your card. Not with my bank. Free withdrawals from EFTPOS, Aust Post and all major ATMs. Which makes sense, seeing as my bank is 100% online - no branches anywhere :(

My bank has only 1 branch/Head Office in Brisbane.

Whilst they charge no fees for using ATMs displaying Visa or Plus certain ATM operators, especially 3rd party operators certainly do.

My bank has removed certain features from their Visa cards that were previously available like Medicare refund charge backs at my local doctor - and certain supermarkets will not allow me to also withdraw cash on my Visa card when paying for groceries.

It's very inconvenient at times.

Gnads wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 12:36pm:

Carl D wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 10:20am: Quote: “There is no evidence to suggest a decline in demand for cash since the end of Covid in Australia.” Really? When did it end? Genuine question. Someone should ask Jason. If it has ended then what was it that I just had for the past week that showed up as Covid on tests? And many others have had it recently/are still getting it? You don't think he might have meant since the Covid lockdowns & restrictions ended?  ::)

Maybe?

Soooooooooo..... why doesn't he say that?

I'm sure they mean that too every time I see "post-COVID" in the newspapers these days. Which is quite often.

Soooooooooo..... again..... why don't they say that?

Oh, and just to stay on topic - yes, cash needs to be retained and protected as a means of payment.

whiteknight wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 10:21am:

Yes the use of cash should be protected, and as they say it is legal tender.  Those that want to use it, should be able to do so.   :(

Meh

You can still ride a horse to the shops if you want but no one does.

Cash is going to disappear , the same way blockbuster videos, telegrams , cavalry charges and kerosene lanterns disappeared.

Stop being a luddite whitey

It's all part of the mark of the beast:


Revelation 13      KJV

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 3:43pm:

It's all part of the mark of the beast: Revelation 13      KJV 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

"Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates... he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers... for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair... for he is the harbinger of death".

Sacred Scrolls, 29th Scroll, 6th Verse. Planet Of The Apes 1968.

And, yes - cash still needs to be retained and protected as a means of payment. Thank you.

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 10:25am:

It doesn't cost anything to withdraw cash from a Post Office.

Aussie Post doesn't charge customers but some of the banks charge their customers for withdrawals from the post office.


greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 12:42pm:

And I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure you can withdraw cash for free at Coles and Woolworths checkouts too.

My local woolies has a $100 max

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 12:42pm:

Not with my bank.

You're obviously not with the Com bank :D :D

I didn't realise the fee's and shortly after taking over my business, was doing two deposits into my Com bank account a day using the post office. The local com bank shut at 1pm every day and i had to deposit at the end of the day so the PO is my only option.... at the end of that month i got charged over $280 in fees. I opened accounts with my local credit union the next day and have been transaction free since.

Back then (2  yrs ago) the fee's were $2.50 per transaction. Since then they've put them up to $5 per transaction. They're just greedy.

Carl D wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 3:55pm:

Bobby. wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 3:43pm: It's all part of the mark of the beast: Revelation 13      KJV 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. "Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates... he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers... for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair... for he is the harbinger of death". Sacred Scrolls, 29th Scroll, 6th Verse. Planet Of The Apes 1968. And, yes - cash still needs to be retained and protected as a means of payment. Thank you.

It was all predicted in the Bible -
the Book of Revelation tells us so.

Revelations is a drug–induced fantasy!

Jovial Monk wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 8:30pm:

Revelations is a drug–induced fantasy!

Blasphemy and heresy.   :o

John Smith wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 4:16pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 29th, 2025 at 12:42pm: Not with my bank. You're obviously not with the Com bank :D :D I didn't realise the fee's and shortly after taking over my business, was doing two deposits into my Com bank account a day using the post office. The local com bank shut at 1pm every day and i had to deposit at the end of the day so the PO is my only option.... at the end of that month i got charged over $280 in fees. I opened accounts with my local credit union the next day and have been transaction free since. Back then (2  yrs ago) the fee's were $2.50 per transaction. Since then they've put them up to $5 per transaction. They're just greedy.

$5 to access your own money isn’t greedy, it’s criminal!

Daves2017 wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 9:06pm:

$5 to access your own money isn’t greedy, it’s criminal!

It gets worse .... most of those transactions were deposits :D :D

You can bet that if we ever go cashless, $5 per transaction will be just the beginning.

We are going to get digital Currency along with digital ID

They go hand in hand and just another step in the Governments controlling your entire life - from what you buy to holidays and travelling you may do.

They’ll restrict you in to staying home unless you are going to work - it’ll be a digital prison.

And let’s not forget - this is what you keep voting for.

Cash is dying in Australia… Here’s the shocking risks | Daily Mail


Oct 2, 2025 

In Australia, the tap of a card or the beep of a phone has become the dominant soundtrack of our economy. Digital transactions now account for the vast majority of purchases, and for many, physical cash is becoming a relic. This rapid shift has led many to wonder if we're on an unstoppable path to a completely cashless society. Recently, concerns were heightened when Commonwealth Bank proposed charging customers fees to withdraw their own cash from a branch. So, what are the real risks of leaving cash behind?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxLwXHIck5Q