Customers at a major Australian bank have just five days before the institution transitions into digital-only payment systems at its own offices.
Under the changes on May 20, customers will no longer have access to over-the-counter services, deposit or collect cheques and order new chequebooks at Macquarie offices.
Customers with a Macquarie Transaction account or Offset account with a Macquarie Debit Mastercard will be able to withdraw cash at ATMs across Australia without fees.
From November 1, Australia’s fifth-largest bank will become completely cashless.
Customers will be unable to write or deposit personal cheques, deposit or request bank cheques, deposit cash or cheques over the counter at NAB branches and make a super contribution or payment via cheque.
Any cheques received after October 31 will be returned to the sender.
“As a digital bank, we’re committed to transitioning to completely digital payments by November 2024 as a safer, faster and convenient way to bank,” a Macquarie Bank spokesperson said last year.
“The majority of our customers already bank digitally and we’re working very closely to support the less than 1 per cent of our customers who currently use cheques or cash to ensure they have access to other digital payment methods.”
Macquarie Bank’s move has been met with criticism about how it will affect some groups of people who rely on non-digital services the most, particularly the elderly.
