The Committee holds a one-off session to examine the cash machine network in Scotland following an announcement by LINK, the network responsible for 82% of all UK cash machine withdrawals, of a reduction of fees from 25p to 20p per withdrawal. There are concerns that the proposals have been driven by pressure from banks to reduce costs and do not reflect the needs of consumers, with the Federation of Small Businesses warning that the reduction in fees risked the closure of thousands of free-to-use cash machines
This inquiry looks at:
- The likely impact of the decision on the ATM network in Scotland on individual, communities and businesses.
- How the impact on rural communities might be mitigated, and the adequacy of the proposal put forward to date.
- The impact of the reduced charge rate on banks and independent ATM providers.
- The effectiveness of LINK's consultation and decision-making processes.