Poll: Is cash king? Or should banks go cashless?

Eva Osborne

The chief executive of Fairstone, a financial consultancy, has said that banks continue to play an important role in an increasingly cashless society.

Paul Merriman is calling for cash services to be retained at banks. Currently, many branches employ a 'welcome advisor', and customers have to use machines or go online for other services.

It comes as AIB had to row back on plans to make some branches fully cashless, after facing backlash from customers a number of years ago.

We want to know what you think. Would you support banks going fully cashless? Or do you think cash is still king? Take our poll and see how many people agree with you.

Speaking on Newstalk, chief executive of Fairstone, Paul Merriman, said: "The people that are in-branch tend to be of an older generation or looking to lodge some amount of cash or take some cash out.

"They mightn't be used to the machines, they mightn't want to use the machines, they might be looking for foreign exchange.

"So, the bank still has a purpose, and cash still has a purpose in society. Having a bank and having the tellers close and just having it machines...I think we need both."