ABN Amro has been forced to close down 470 ATM machines due to heists. The machines have been emptied and boarded up but ABN Amro thinks the closure will only be temporary and should not last more than a few weeks, NOS reports.
ABN Amro bank is targeted
There have been 60 heists this year on ABN Amro machines. Competitors such as ING and SNS have not had any successful heists on their machines, although there have been a few attempts.
ABN Amro has made clear that the agreements they have with De Nederlandsche Bank and the National Payments Consultation, such as for there must be a cash dispenser for consumers within a 5-kilometre radius, will not be affected.
Safer locations sought for the ATM machines
A drastic increase in the number of robberies has led to the decision to close the ATM machines while ABN Amro looks for safer locations to house them in.
The bank commented, “We understand that this emergency measure can cause inconvenience to anyone who wants to withdraw money at the closed ATMs, but the safety of local residents and entrepreneurs comes first”.
ANBO association recognises the safety concerns but is worried about the effect these closures will have on peoples’ ability to access cash. Director of ANBO, Liane den Haan, tells NOS “The Netherlands has between 2 and 4 million people who cannot use internet banking and are therefore heavily dependent on cash. These are not only the elderly, but also people who cannot read or write, people with a low literacy or people with a disability.”
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