ATMs closed in the nights
Posted on: 01/Jan/2014 2:32:54 PM
Most of the banks have started closing their ATMs in the nights sighting security reasons. While old-generation private sector banks such as Karur Vysya Bank and City Union Bank have started closing several ATMs at night, others said they would take a call after studying usage patterns.
KVB shuts about 200 of its more than 1,500 ATMs at night. The bank shuts 200-odd ATMs between 10pm and 6am. It put up notices outside the ATMs saying they were being shut due to security reasons.
Senior officials from IBA (Indian Banks’ Association) said at a recent meeting, some banks had suggested a partial closure (11pm to 6am) of ATMs located in isolated areas and those that did not have too many walk-ins.
Bankers said the cost of maintaining an ATM comes to around Rs 40,000-50,000 a month, of which salary of a round-the-clock security guard is around Rs 15,000, electricity charges around Rs 3,000 and machine depreciation accounting for other expenses
Some like Federal Bank have commissioned a study while others such as South Indian Bank are on a wait-and watch mode. IBA had written to the RBI stating that banks will take a call on which low traffic ATMs will be closed at night.
