More than SR32 billion withdrawn from ATMs during Ramadan

Cash withdrawals from ATMs linked with the Saudi Payments Network (SPAN) during this Ramadan are estimated at more than SR32 billion, a growth of more than 8.9 percent than 2012 Ramadan.
This was stated by Talat Zaki Hafiz, secretary general of the Media & Banking Awareness Committee of Saudi Banks.
“Sales outlets recorded a growth of SR20 billion, an increase of more than 23 percent against last Ramadan,” Hafiz told local media.
He said ATMs had been operating 100 percent at all times, mainly during prime time, salary disbursements, vacations and the Eid season.
“Malfunctions of ATMs are very limited in comparison with the volumes and transaction numbers executed by these machines throughout the Kingdom,” he said, adding that their number is more than 1,300 machines.
“The transactions executed last year were 1.3 billion.”
Running out of cash by ATMs was the least and weakest of reasons for malfunctions of machines, Hafiz said.
“The rate is no more than 3 percent, with the banks handling the matter on the spot once the machine is out of cash.”
He said all banks have an operation room to electronically monitor cash withdrawals around the hour to check its functionality, efficiency and readiness to operate.
“There are action teams that monitor and conduct inspection tours on the machines to follow up its work,” he said.
Hafiz said all banks were ordered to allow services of deposits on ATMs, and that a number of banks will still be working during Eid Al-Fitr holiday.