The number of cash withdrawals made at ATMs globally in 2016 was 106 billion – up six billion on 2015, according to new figures from RBR.

The report also found that the number of ATMs that could be used to automatically deposit banknotes reached 1.1 million, which equates to 34 per cent of the global ATM total. This, according to the study, has enabled banks and independent ATM deployers to reduce costs, as automated deposit ATMs allow banks to move staff members to other roles, such as sales.

There is also a growing number of global Recycling ATMs – ATMs that are able to dispense the deposited banknotes. The number has risen from 360,000 in 2012 to more than 670,000 in 2016. In addition to staff redeployment, these machines also enable banks to reduce their cash-in-transit (CIT) costs, as they require fewer cash replenishment visits. Reducing such CIT costs is the goal for many deployers.

Rowan Berridge, who led RBR’s Global ATM Market and Forecasts to 2022 research, said: “Banks are improving the functionality of their ATMs so that more transactions can be migrated from the branch counter to self-service, freeing up staff to undertake sales and advisory tasks. Furthermore, they are increasingly rationalising their branch networks and using ATMs to offer a wide range of services in areas that do not justify the presence of a traditional outlet.”

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