Say Goodbye to Easy Cash at Shell Stations?
Shell Stops Cash Withdrawals: Cessation of Withdrawal Service at Shell Gas Stations - Shell Gas Stations Eliminate Cash Payments: Pick-Up Service Now Cashless
Prepare for some changes in your cash-using habits. The oul' , a collective of banks like , , and , could be phasing out cash withdrawals at gas stations by the end of June, according to reports from the .
Spending Thousand Euros in Cold Hard Cash, No Problem (With a Fee...)
A whopping 1,300 gas stations won't offer this cash convenience from now on. As it stands, customers can withdraw up to 1,000 Euros—with no minimum spending and an ATM fee, if their bank isn't a part of the .
It's still unclear if a new dealer or cooperation will pop up with other banks to take Shell's place.
Stay tuned, customers, because dropping cash could get trickier once Shell's in the rearview mirror. Some banks, such as and , are planning to shutter nearly half of their branches by the end of 2026.
Kissing Our ATMs Goodbye
We've seen a sharp drop in the number of ATMs since 2018—from 59,000 nationwide to a mere 51,000 by 2023, and the trend keeps going down. Fewer physical transactions and an alarming number of ATM explosions are the main culprits.
- Cash
- Shell
- Deutsche Bank
- Postbank
- Commerzbank
Sources: , , T-Online
Side Note:
While this move doesn't alter the legal framework for anti-money laundering or financial regulations in Germany, it does slightly impact financial inclusivity, as consumers could face increased difficulty accessing cash services in certain areas, especially rural or underserved ones. Potential consequences include an increase in dependence on bank branches or supermarket ATMs, potential costs for withdrawals at non-group ATMs, and reduced convenience for those relying on nearby Shell stations. Moving forward, keep your eyes peeled for new cooperations and consider exploring alternative withdrawal locations!
- The impending changes in cash-withdrawing habits might necessitate customers to reconsider their reliance on Shell gas stations, given the potential suspension of cash services by the Cash Group, which includes banks like Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and Postbank.
- As the Cash Group plans to close a significant number of ATMs by the end of 2026, including those at Shell stations, consumers may experience increased costs and reduced convenience when accessing cash, particularly in rural or underserved areas, necessitating exploration of alternative withdrawal locations.
