ATMs in manual LPOs

Banking services are a protected product under Annexure B of the LPO Agreement. However, for some years, POAAL has been lobbying AP to allow ATMs to be installed in small manual LPOs, especially where there are no other banking services available to customers in the area and no likelihood of EPOS facilities being installed at the LPO.Many small country communities are disadvantaged because of the lack of local electronic banking services. In response to customer demand, many Licensees at manual LPOs in rural and remote areas in particular have been asking POAAL to represent their interests to Australia Post.Although our discussions have obviously been confidential, it is pleasing to now be able to report that these discussions have finally borne fruit.A response by Australia Post to a recent Senate Estimates question on this subject indicates that where a Licensee at a manual LPO applies to AP for approval to install an ATM, AP would in most cases approve the application.