MORE than 8,000 people who were left without a bank in Ystradgynlais, have now been given a free ATM to help with access to cash.

In September, Lloyds bank closed its Ystradgynlais branch, which left the town – the second largest in Powys – without a bank.

This frustrated residents and one submitted a request to LINK – the UK’s cash access and ATM network – for a new, free to use machine through the network’s community request initiative.

LINK has now installed a new ATM at A&A News and Wines in the town, allowing free access to the withdrawal of cash for the town’s residents and visitors. This will be welcomed by the town’s retailers, restaurants and independent bars who prefer to accept cash and to residents who continue to use cash as a method of budgeting.

Nick Quin, head of financial inclusion at LINK, said: “Access to cash remains vital in every corner of the UK. We are proud to be supporting local businesses, residents and visitors in Ystradgynlais to continue to access cash free of charge for as long as is needed.

“If any community believes it has an issue, it can contact LINK directly or they can check our cash locator app or website to see where they can withdraw cash for free.”

The LINK scheme provides communities with access to cash through services such as cashback at tills and banking hubs as well as providing ATMs. LINK’s cash locator can be found at www.link.co.uk/consumers/locator and any community that believes there is an issue with the access to cash in the area can apply to LINK directly at www.link.co.uk/consumers/request-access-to-cash.