Bangalore: State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) comprising officials from 45 banks met city police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar to discuss about the mandatory security norms for ATM kiosks in the city. Since there was no uniformity in bankers’ approach, the commissioner would take a decision by Monday about the future course of action.
“There are differences in the compliance by the bankers. The bankers have provided the information in the pro forma as required by us. This has to be compiled and a final decision on the future course of action about the three mandatory security arrangements for the ATM kiosks across the city and punishment of violators will be taken by Monday,” Auradkar said.
There are 3,651 ATM kiosks of 45 banks across the city, of which only 394 do not have security guards. Nearly 2,372 kiosks do not have the mandatory alarm system, which is a must even in the guidelines set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Around 1,987 kiosks have the CCTV facility outside the kiosks, while nearly 3,238 have it inside,” the Commissioner said.
“This is the sixth meeting with the bankers in the last one year. The 45-day deadline for the three mandatory security arrangements ended on January 12. Despite the deadline, some banks have again sought more time. Some banks have asked for a month, some till this month end and few others for another two days,” the commissioner said.
We have not taken any decision on bankers’ requests seeking more time. Majority of the bankers have issues regarding the alarm system. They claim that there is a heavy demand for it after the order was passed, the Commissioner added.
On behalf of SLBC, S Kamath, General Manager of the Syndicate Bank, told media persons that 90 per cent of the ATMs have security guards and majority of them have CCTVs fitted inside.
The problem is regarding providing the alarm system and the CCTVs outside the kiosks. “Except for five banks, the rest have sought more time. The SLBC has requested to prioritise only the ATM kiosks of Bangalore,” he said.
