Brittany island’s only ATM shuts, limiting cash access for residents

A small island off the Brittany coastline is seeing its only ATM shut down, as the bank responsible says it cannot be safely managed. 

The sole ATM on Ouessant (Ushant in English), a small island in the Finistère department with around 850 permanent residents, was located near a store in the main village Lampaul.

Operated by the Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne – which is also shutting down its bank branch on the island – the ATM was put out of service today (October 8) and will be removed in two weeks. 

“The conditions are not met to manage the supply [of cash] and properly operate the ATM,” the bank said to media outlet 20 Minutes. 

“Its continued operation is therefore not an option, and no other viable solution has been found at our level,” it added. 

While circumstances on the small island are unique to the area, it mirrors a wider reduction of cashpoints across France, with the number of ATMs dropping by around 16% between 2018 and 2023 - around 8,500 ATMs. 

Between July 2023 and July 2024, a further 2,000 closed, and bank branch closures have also impacted the number of ATMs available. 

However, the Banque de France says that 98% of people live within 15 minutes of a cashpoint, and that rural residents are less impacted by closures, with most taking place in communes of 2,000 or more inhabitants where several dispensers are located.

Lack of cash impacts island’s residents and tourists

Residents of Ouessant are unsurprisingly disappointed by the news. "We'll all be paying by credit card, which will result in fees for shopkeepers and revenue for bankers,” said one online.

“It's deplorable and very hard for the residents,” said Ouessant mayor Denis Palluel, quoted in 20 Minutes. “We have a lot of elderly people here who are used to withdrawing cash,” he said. 

However, this is not the only risk to the island from losing the ATM. 

Buoyed by summer tourism, the ATM is seen as important for the sector, as it allows visitors who may have forgotten to bring cash to withdraw a small amount, boosting income for services in the industry.

It is possible to withdraw cash from the two other bank branches on the island, run by Crédit Agricole and La Banque Postale, but this is limited to customers of the banks and is carried out at the counter, reducing opportunities when the locations are closed.

Two shopkeepers on the island offer cash withdrawals as private cash points, but again this is limited to opening hours of the stores.

The CMB has proposed that the mairie installs its own cashpoint on the island, but the mayor says it is not feasible. 

“It requires too much investment, and we're not bankers… we already have enough on our plate, so we have to stop trying to blame the municipalities for everything,” he said. 

“[Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne] is ultimately acting like an ordinary bank that is gradually abandoning small communities.” 

Have you seen ATMs in your area close, or are you worried about the lack of cashpoints? Do you often still use cash? Let us know via feedback@connexionfrance.com