The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) announced that the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns has joined its agreement with the Austrian Association of Municipalities to support uninterrupted access to cash across Austria, extending the initiative to include urban catchment areas. The agreement was signed at Vienna City Hall by OeNB Governor Martin Kocher and Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig in his capacity as president of the association. The OeNB framed the initiative in the context of euro cash being Austria’s only legal tender and remaining widely used. Since summer 2025, Nationalbank cash-dispensing machines have been deployed to address identified cash access gaps in rural areas, while the OeNB noted that the dense provision network of Austrian banks remains the backbone of cash supply. Up to 120 new OeNB ATMs are planned nationwide by end-2026, with the cities association highlighting the importance of cash for people without bank accounts and for making payments during power or system outages.
Austrian National Bank expands cash supply agreement as Austrian Association of Cities and Towns joins and targets up to 120 new ATMs by end-2026
The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) announced that the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns has joined its agreement with the Austrian Association of Municipalities to ensure uninterrupted cash access across Austria, now including urban areas. The initiative, emphasizing euro cash as Austria's sole legal tender, involves deploying up to 120 new OeNB ATMs by the end of 2026 to address cash access gaps. The cities association highlighted cash's importance for individuals without bank accounts and during outages.