Declining note volumes have not removed the cage; they have changed what it is for. Fewer, larger and more scrutinised transactions have replaced a steady flow of small ones.
The design consequence is a smaller counter frontage, more private interview space, and considerably more attention to the security of the back-of-house route.
Fewer notes did not mean a smaller cage. It meant a different one.
Automation
Recyclers, automated ticket redemption and self-service kiosks have absorbed routine transactions, leaving staff to handle exceptions, compliance interactions and account services.
That shift raises the skill profile of cage staff and the training obligation that goes with it.
Ergonomics and safety
Modern cage layouts pay attention to sightlines, seated working positions, screen glare and duress provisions in a way that older installations rarely did.
Staff safety review has become a standard part of cage refurbishment scope rather than an afterthought.
