Eesti Post launches cash withdrawal service for rural Estonians

People living in rural Estonia can now withdraw cash from their bank accounts through a new service provided by local mail delivery staff. Omniva, the state-owned postal operator that still runs its domestic postal services under the name Eesti Post after last year’s rebrand, launched the new service at the end of April.

The service sees mail carriers using portable card payment terminals to allow customers to withdraw cash using their bank cards and a PIN number. Customers can take out up to EUR 400 each time, but have to submit an order to Eesti Post’s customer service centre by phone ahead of time.

The new offering improves the availability of cash in rural areas.

But Kaido Padar, head of postal services at Eesti Post, said the new service also responds to his company’s need to replace post offices with postal points, where customers will no longer be able to withdraw cash.

Padar said feedback from local authorities had pointed out the problem with rural people accessing cash withdrawal services if post offices were turned into more limited postal points.

“Although financial services are not the main activity of the company, since we’re continuing to focus on postal and logistics products, we understand people’s concerns and wish to help,” Padar said.

“We have a network covering the entire territory of Estonia, and Eesti mail carriers get to all mail boxes six days a week. That network can also be used for cash disbursements.”

Eesti Post said the cash withdrawal service is open to customers of banks including Swedbank, SEB Pank, LHV Pank, Nordea Pank and Danske Bank.