The Bank of Ireland has pulled the ATM service from one of the busiest shops in Castlebar this week. The ATM, which was located outside of the Londis supermarket on Station Road, was removed earlier in the week against the wishes of the proprietor of the supermarket, Seamus McCafferty.
“The situation is that the Bank of Ireland removed the ATM on a cost basis to themselves, they felt it wasn’t cost beneficial to them to have to pay a security company to come and fill the machine,” Mr McCafferty told the Mayo Advertiser. “I was in discussions with them and tried very hard to get them to retain the service, as were the Londis head office, as it provided a great service to the people.” However Mr McCafferty is very hopeful that an alternative will be in place soon. “I’m in discussions with a number of banks about them taking on the service and I’m very hopeful that we will have another bank restore the service in the near future.”
The ATM was located on a busy artery into the town, with motorists from both the Breaffy Road and Ballinrobe Road passing by the Londis supermarket. The train station in the town is also located within 50m of the supermarket.
“There was a huge catchment area that used that machine outside of the normal business hours, there was safe parking and good lighting and people felt safe using it whatever time of day or night,” Mr McCafferty added. “It was very popular with people who were using the train early in the morning, they could take out the money to buy their ticket for the train and grab somthing to eat there, right beside the station. We still offer cash back on laser and credit card purchase in the store, but as I said before I’m in discussion with other banks at present and am very hopeful that they will take on providing the service in the near future.”
The Mayo Advertiser contacted Bank of Ireland in regard to the removal of the ATM, but at time of going to print they had not replied to the enquiry.
