Andhra Bank plans 175 bio-metric ATMs

Andhra Bank launched its first bio-metric ATM at Kondapur in Hyderabad on Monday. This is the bank's 500th off-site ATM, apart from a shared network of 18,000 ATMs.

As part of its expansion policy, the banks intends to open 750 more ATMs across the country, 175 of them with the bio-metric facility, by March 2008.

"We have been issuing ATM cards to our customers in rural and semi-urban areas. But since the cards are PIN-operated, the illiterate customers rely mainly on the security guard at the ATM centres to key in the PIN and withdraw money. Besides, many educated customers are now preferring bio-metric ATM as it adds to the safety and security of their money. Keeping this in view, we, as a part of the financial inclusion programme, are planning to take this ATM technology to the masses," K Ramakrishnan, chairman and managing director of Andhra Bank, told the media on Monday.

Each bio-metric ATM machine, costing around Rs 4.5 lakh, will have the interactive voice recorded information delivery in local languages and will be connected to the electra financial transaction (EFT) switch.

It can authenticate an individual by measuring his or her distinct physical characteristics or behavioural traits.

Andhra Bank is also set to introduce two mobile ATM vans in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad shortly.

"Depending on the demand, we plan to launch a third mobile ATM van by March 15 this year," Ramakrishnan said.