Denaria Calls on Bank of Spain to Recognise Cash as Essential Service from Alicante

During the event "Cash, a Key Element for the Freedom and Inclusion of All Citizens," held this Tuesday at the Real Liceo Casino de Alicante, the Denaria Platform urged the Bank of Spain to declare cash as an essential public service, in line with the provisions of Law 17/2015, of July 9, of the National Civil Protection System.

The event brought together institutional representatives, experts from the social, business, and financial sectors, to emphasise the irreplaceable role of cash as a guarantor of freedom, inclusion, and social resilience, especially in emergency contexts. Denaria acknowledges that it is the Government's responsibility to decide what constitutes an essential service; however, it believes that a formal declaration by the Bank of Spain would serve as a first step towards including cash as an essential service within the Civil Protection Law.

This measure would strengthen the mechanisms of prevention and response in emergency situations, ensuring that citizens are never deprived of their right to pay in cash.

The Platform reminds that the Bank of Spain plays a central role in monitoring and protecting access to cash, through the development of the Cash Access Vulnerability Index (IVAE) and the preparation of periodic studies identifying areas and groups at risk of financial exclusion, and coordinates with other authorities within the framework of the national financial inclusion strategy. It also promotes solutions such as mobile offices or agreements with Correos to reinforce the territorial coverage of cash.

For Denaria, payment systems should be considered critical infrastructures, comparable to essential services such as transport, electricity, or telecommunications. "Citizens have the right to access safe and universal means of payment, in any circumstance and place.

Cash is the only one that does not depend on digital infrastructure and continues to function in the event of a blackout, disaster, or cyberattack. Moreover, cash has once again proven to be a fundamental means for society as a whole," stated Javier Rupérez, president of Denaria.

The recent blackout on April 28, which temporarily collapsed electronic payment networks across Spain, prevented card purchases, cash withdrawals from ATMs, or receiving money at the counter. This situation highlighted the fragility of the digital system and the need for a reliable and accessible alternative to ensure the functioning of basic social functions.

This, along with the recent recommendation of the "survival kit" proposed by the European Commission, has once again highlighted that cash is an essential service.

In this regard, countries like France, Sweden, and Slovenia have recently taken firm steps to secure access to cash as a strategic element of national resilience. The French National Payments Committee (CNMP) emphasised on June 2 that payments are an essential component of economic and national security, and that cash was the only available means during recent crises such as Cyclone Chido in Mayotte or the massive blackout on April 28 in Spain.

Therefore, France will strengthen physical access to cash through a new interbank cash withdrawal service in shops and has reminded the legal obligation of its acceptance by businesses. In Sweden, the Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden) has proposed this year legislation requiring businesses to accept cash, and reinforcing the responsibility of banks to ensure its distribution throughout the territory.

This initiative responds to the negative effects detected after excessive digitalisation of the payment system that left part of the population without viable alternatives. Meanwhile, Slovenia has further elevated the level of protection: last May, its parliament approved introducing into its Constitution the right to use cash as a means of payment in legal transactions, and is guaranteeing its use by law even in the banking sector.

During the meeting, authoritative voices such as Luis Vaño Gisbert (CERMI Comunidad Valenciana), Miguel Padilla (COAG), and Luis de Palacio (FEFE) emphasised that cash is a key factor for individual freedom, territorial equality, and the protection of the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, rural inhabitants, or those without digital means.

Furthermore, the protection of cash infrastructure was discussed, and Anna Fransson, Director General of the Spanish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, presented the case of Sweden, where excessive digitalisation generated access problems and forced a policy correction to safeguard the use of physical money, which was debated along with AEPA (to be confirmed) and the Alicante provincial council (to be confirmed).

All of the above highlights the need to adopt preventive measures to increase the security of citizens, not only in times of crisis but also during the daily course of the economy, and for this, cash once again stands out as the most effective means.