As banks have closed offices and reduced their presence around the country, more and more people have been given more and more time to collect or deposit cash.

As of January 1 this year, 2021, six major banks therefore have a legal obligation to provide cash services.

But there is a geographically worded exception in the law.

The exception means that a maximum of 0.3 per cent of the population in Sweden must have more than 25 kilometers to a place where they can withdraw money, and a maximum of 1.22 per cent of the population must have more than 25 kilometers to a place where they can deposit a cash register in a bank account.

- This means that those who need a team like this the most will not benefit from it, says for example Erika Hjukström who is business secretary in Sorsele.

New ATMs

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS), as the supervisory authority, must monitor accessibility and ensure that the law is complied with.

- It is still too early to say anything about how the outcome will be and I do not dare to comment on what it looks like in Västerbotten, but it is true that a small proportion can get longer distances than 25 kilometers, comments Fredrika Hed Rosén who is the administrator at PTS.

As a private person, you thus have no right to have been fairly close to cash services, but it is assessed with a percentage at the national level.

The six major banks have in a joint company, ATM, started setting up new ATMs.

Last year, a total of 22 new ones were established in Sweden, three of which are now in Byske, Vännäs and Burträsk.

In places like Norsjö, the old machine has been replaced with one that also has a deposit function.

- This has been important for us and now it seems to work well, but there is a need to be able to bank larger sums, says Beatriz Axelsson, growth manager.

Different solutions

The combined machines have an upper limit set by each bank.

Other municipalities in Västerbotten have solved cash management in various ways.

In Åsele, for example, there is (in addition to a regular ATM) an agreement with Loomis where the merchants' association contributes with care and cleaning of the service box.

The County Administrative Board also enters here with a financial compensation for four years.

- We do not know what happens next, states business manager Calle Birgersson.

In Sorsele, it is already unclear how it will actually be.

The cash services have been deficient and this irritates the residents.

More about that in the clip.