Number of ATMs to double; will also accept deposits

Also, the public sector banks have been asked to double the number of ATMs from about 63,000 in the next two years, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after reviewing working of state-owned banks and financial institutions.

"People must take to banking ... Something like Rs 11 lakh crore lies as cash in hands of people. That Rs 11 lakh crore money should not lie in hands of people, it should lie in banks," he said.

He said more people will take to banking if there are more branches and facility to draw money whenever needed and put it back into banks when they do not require it.

"Now banks have been advised to quickly upgrade their ATMs to not only cash disbursing machines, but also cash accepting machines.

"Banks should also intensify door-step banking, in bazaars, markets to collect the daily collection of shops in order to mobilise the savings of the people," the minister added.

He further said that public sector banks have about 63,000 ATMs in different parts of the country.

"The goal is to double it in two years. I am confident they will achieve it," he added.

He said upgrading ATMs to cash collecting machines will help in channelising a large part of cash lying with public in the banking system.

"Ideal banking is that money should remain in bank and I can withdraw it when I want...So the ideal is (that) all money should be in the bank," he said when asked what part of Rs 11 lakh crore should be in banks and with public. MORE