Cashback charge: Allied Irish Banks is to charge shops 20 cent for every cashback transaction in-store from the beginning of next month.

Retailers and consumers already pay 20 cent for each Laser transaction, making it a handy little earner for the banks even before the new charge is implemented. Newsagents are now considering either refusing to give cashback on AIB Laser transactions or passing the charge on to the customer. No surprise there, then.