Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Free use of ATMs restricted

...........The changes proposed are, therefore, neither in the interest of bank customers nor the banks themselves, and it is a retrograde step, as it adversely affects the spreading of banking habit among the poor and the down trodden, who can ill afford to pay these high charges levied by banks for the use of ATMs. There is certainly no case for banks to curtail the existing facilities available to ATM users, much less in their own ATMs for their own customers, as imposing additional charges on the depositors will only result in negating the efforts of the government in spreading financial inclusion, which is being attempted at a very heavy cost to the exchequer. There is no doubt, therefore, that by restricting free usage of ATMs, banks are “biting the hands that feed them”, hurting both the banks and their customers. 

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