SOME BANKS STILL OPERATE OFF-SITE ATMS IN LAGOS

Some banks in Lagos are still operating their off-site Automated Teller Machines after the expiration the Central Bank of Nigeria's deadline that banks close all such machines.

The CBN had in June 2009 directed banks to stop operating ATMs outside their premises and gave them up till March 31, 2010 to close such machines.

The apex bank directed that banks should limit the facilities to their premises and allow other agencies to offer the service outside banks' premises.

A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria showed that some banks were still operating their off-site machines 24 hours after the expiration of the deadline.

A correspondent of NAN reports that one bank's ATM at the National Theatre complex was still functioning on Thursday.

Customers were seen waiting patiently at another ATM at the National Theatre while the machine was being loaded.

Sources told NAN that one ATM at the premises of Tastee fast food on the Marina was dispensing cash on Thursday before the machine went out of service around 1.00p.m.

The ATM operated by Spring Bank at the City Mall at Onikan was, however, out of service while another at the same location, but without any identification, was also not operational.

Some banks have, however, said that they had complied with the CBN directive and had handed their machines to Interswitch, which they said, would provide the ATM services in public places.

The Head of Corporate Affairs at Afribank, Mr Moshood Isamotu, confirmed that the bank had fully complied with the directive and had handed seven machines to Interswitch.

He said that the bank did not have many off-site machines, a reason for the low number of machines released to Interswitch.

'There are no complications because customers can still collect money at the same locations

'The only difference is that it is now Interswitch that will be solely responsible for the management of these ATMs.

'The new system will reduce the cost of management formally borne by the banks in charge,'' he said.

Sources at the Corporate Affairs Department of United Bank for Africa said that the bank had handed over 700 machines nation-wide to Interswitch.