Cash withdrawal in Hungary: One million account holders affected by this change

Erste Bank customers can withdraw cash from Takarékbank ATMs until 30 June under the same conditions. The background to this change is Magyar Bankholdig.

Changes coming to the customers of Erste Bank

A huge change is coming to the life of Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. customers, napi.hu reports. From 30 June 2023, they will no longer be able to withdraw cash from Takarékbank ATMs under similar conditions as from their account manager’s ATMs.

As the reason for the change, Erste wrote in a letter to its customers: “The Takarék Group has joined the Magyar Bankholding Group this year, which entails certain changes.”

Erste Bank customers have been able to use Takarékbank’s ATMs for cash withdrawals with the same conditions as Erste Bank’s. Erste Bank, the Austrian parent company, has written to its customers saying that it is aware that the change, which will come into force from the end of July, will cause inconvenience in many cases, especially in those municipalities where there are currently no Erste ATMs.

Erste Bank’s recommendations

The financial institution is therefore proposing cashless solutions such as card payments. It is also asking customers to fill in a free cash withdrawal form, which will allow them to withdraw HUF 150,000 (EUR 405.5) from any ATM twice a month free of charge.

Last summer, Magyar Bankholding closed down around three dozen Takarékbank branches and ATMs in smaller settlements, including in Debrecen, Tarcal, Szentmártonkáta, Nyírvasvári, Bodroghalom and Zamárdi.

The only carbon neutral bank in Hungary

This year, Erste Hungary is operating in a carbon neutral manner. The bank has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 70 percent in the last six years, Origo reports. All Erste branches and offices run on green electricity. And, by 2030, the entire fleet will be fully electric. Social and environmental responsibility permeates the bank’s entire operations, the statement of the financial institution says.