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 Banksďż˝ 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.
