The Hindu Business Line : Banks look to deploy more mobile ATMs

Mumbai, Jan. 4 More banks are now looking to deploy mobile ATMs as a means of providing value-added service to customers. Earlier, banks used mobile ATMs more as a showcase than a service, said Ms Rupinder Anand, Director, Sales and Marketing, Diebold.

Several banks are deploying mobile ATMs in places like Dilli Haat where people – foreigners and locals – spend by cash. The Bandra fair and the cattle fair in Puskhar are other places where banks are now looking to deploy mobile ATMs.

“Banks now see mobile ATMs as a need, more than something to showcase,” Ms Anand said.

Diebold, which manufacturers and manages ATMs for banks has deployed 11 mobile ATMs in India so far for banks like State Bank of Patiala, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank and Bank of India.

Some banks like State Bank of Patiala and Oriental Bank of Commerce are looking to deploy more such ATMs in parts of north India and Rajasthan, Ms Anand said.

The main difference in mobile and stationary ATMs is the cost.

A mobile ATM costs roughly Rs 30 lakh, which includes the money spent for the vehicle, fabrication for the vehicle’s design, special branding through television screens and network connectivity using UPS. As against this a normal ATM costs about Rs 5 lakh.

But banks are now seeing mobile ATMs as an investment as they typically use mobile ATMs as a mini branch, Ms Anand said.

The vehicle is equipped with a desk and chair and when it halts in an area and staff of the bank is present to talk with the people visiting the ATM. These ATMs can also be used for branding, she pointed out.

As the next step in making bill payments through ATMs, Diebold is currently carrying out a pilot project where customers can make bill payments through ATMs of any bank, even if they are not customers of that particular bank. This feature in ATMs will take care of the problem of customers having to register themselves with a particular bank website to make payment, Ms Anand said.

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