Covid rules may see 70% of ATMs close

Consumers could be short of cash soon, not because their bank accounts are empty but because banks could be forced to close down some of their automatic teller machines (ATMs).

This is because Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has instructed banks to provide hand sanitisers at all ATMs, or face the might of the law.

The Banking Association of South Africa (Basa) said in a statement that it would engage the relevant government departments to change the wording of the latest regulations to indicate that banks were only responsible for enforcing the regulations where it was practical, possible and within their control.

Banks are forced to comply with regulations and an unintended consequence of the regulations in their current form could be the removal of noncompliant ATMs from service.

According to Basa, banks were committed to creating a safe environment for their clients to transact and would continue to implement practical measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 at ATMs.

These included social distance markers and messaging to create awareness around ATMs where practical and possible.

And regular cleaning and sanitising of ATMs attached to branches during operating hours and provision of hand sanitisers.

ATMs not attached to branches are cleaned and sanitised by external cleaning companies or landlords and cash-in-transit companies that service the ATMs.

About 70% of the 30 000 ATMs in the country are in remote locations and on premises that are not owned by banks, such as petrol station forecourts, malls and in shops.

Banks face challenges in complying with the adjusted Level 3 regulations in these instances.

Although banks had supplied hand sanitisers for remote ATMs, they have said it was unsustainable due to theft and vandalism.

Without bank staff in the vicinity of many remote ATMs, it was practically impossible for banks to monitor and enforce social distance queuing there.

Social distance markers were also subject to the restrictions of premises’ owners.

But Basa said that despite these challenges, banks were committed to improving the frequency of ATM sanitisation and ensuring that hand sanitisers were available at remote locations.

To achieve this they had pledged to work with building owners to improve communication of Covid-19 health protocols and to reinforce the practice of social distancing.