According to data from the Bank of Portugal (2022), 1,276 parishes (41%) have no access points to physical cash.
“The reduction in cash access points is creating veritable cash deserts throughout the country, particularly affecting the most isolated and vulnerable groups,” Denária’s national representative, Mário Frota, stated in a statement, marking the 40th anniversary of the Multibanco.
For the association, it is imperative to strengthen network coverage and ensure that all Portuguese citizens maintain their right to use cash, the most widely used payment method in Portugal.
Denária Portugal is a non-profit association that advocates for the use of cash as a common means of payment.
The Multibanco ATM network was launched on September 2, 1985. At the time, nine ATMs were available in Lisbon and Porto.
Data from SIBS, the Multibanco operator, reveals that there are currently approximately 13,000 ATMs in Portugal, allowing for more than 90 different transactions.
Last year, 693 million transactions were carried out on the ATM network, it says.