CASH IS KING: Australia’s big four banks say they noticed an unprecedented amount of $300 cash withdrawals from ATM’s in the Western Sydney city of Penrith last night.
“There was a flurry of withdrawals around 9.45pm,” says Westpac’s Jane Hilder. “It all seemed to happen in the hour or so after Panthers won the NRL Grand Final.”
The Banking Association says 76% of cash withdrawals between 9.45pm and 10.30pm were for exactly $300.
“Despite Sydney’s lockdown, many of our ATM machines ran out of cash,” says ANZ’s Michael Henry.
Last night the Penrith Panthers beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-12 to win the 2021 NRL grand final at Brisbane’s Lang Park.
The influx of cash withdrawals in Penrith coincides with several cocaine related arrests in the area last night.
But NSW Police say they’re cautious about drawing any links between the two trends.
