Those that continue to trade in cash could be facing additional charges from January unless tighter regulation is used to control ATMs at the disposal of independent operators.
Ballymote Tubbercurry Councillor Paul Taylor has issued the warning ahead of the possible introduction of such charges in January of next year.
The consumer watchdog are warning that unregulated owners of hundreds of ATMs throughout the country could soon start charging for cash withdrawals.
Bank of Ireland and AIB sold 1,200 ATMs between them to independent operators in 2021.
At the time of the sales, commitments were given that there would be no additional charges imposed by the new independent owners for withdrawing cash for a period of three years. However, now it’s feared that new charges will be imposed on top of bank fees.
Councillor Taylor says unless these operators are regulated they could charge up to three euro for every transaction conducted through ATMs.
