Paris (AFP)
Faced with the strike movement against pension reform, the Banque de France is "extremely vigilant" regarding the supply of automatic teller machines (ATMs), whose situation remains at this stage "satisfactory", explains AFP Christophe Baud Berthier, director of fiduciary activities within the institution.
QUESTION: Is there a risk of a shortage of tickets in ATMs due to the strike?
ANSWER: This risk is unpredictable and it would be a combination of several factors, such as impossible access to ATMs or other. So at this stage no, there is a priori no risk.
The situation is generally satisfactory. France has nearly 53,000 ATMs and more than 23,000 private access points to cash (only accessible to customers of the networks concerned such as the green points of Crédit Agricole, the Nickel points, etc.) Given the extreme traffic congestion, particularly in Ile-de-France but also in other agglomerations, it may happen that, from time to time, cash carriers cannot access certain ATMs which are then temporarily out of service.
It also happens frequently and probably more at this time, that people park unexpectedly and block the spaces normally reserved for deliveries. Again, for obvious safety reasons, the carriers' trucks cannot stop and load the ATMs.
Q: Did the BoF take specific measures to deal with the strike?
A: The Banque de France is of course extremely vigilant and steers the situation in close coordination with the money carriers, credit institutions and law enforcement agencies to guarantee the supply of cash throughout the country.
It carries out a regular check-up with all these partners. It has, for example, encouraged players to carry out precautionary orders and also to supply the credit institutions' machines via different channels.
ATMs are of course the most common means of distributing cash, but we must not forget the ATMs and what is called "cash back", which is the possibility among traders who offer this service. '' get up to 60 euros in cash when purchasing with a payment card.
Q: More generally, how does the BdF ensure that there is no shortage of supplies?
A: The Banque de France, taking into account its responsibility in the issue and quality of the circulation of cash, ensures that banknotes and coins are fed upstream to money carriers and then ensures, in a dedicated body monitoring and steering, that the latter and credit institutions can supply all the distribution points in the territory.
© 2019 AFP