According to theState Bank of Vietnam, there were nearly 79 million bank accounts,16,000 ATMs and 168,000 point-of-sale (POS) machines by the end of lastNovember in Vietnam.
ATMs belonging to the largest commercialbanks such as Military Bank, Techcombank and Vietcombank are located incrowded areas with plenty of workers and employees, such as officebuildings, shopping centres and industrial parks.
According to asurvey conducted last June, the largest commercial banks have set up1,810 ATMs in Hanoi and 2,409 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Governor ofthe State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Binh said that commercial banksshould share ATMs as they are wasting their money by opening ATMs nextto each other.
He said that sharing ATMs will help the banks savemaintenance expenses, and the State Bank of Vietnam is reviewingregulations that allow banks to transport cash to fill up their ATMs.
Headded that the State Bank will ask one of the largest commercial banksto build a company that specialised in disbursing and transporting moneyto its branches and transaction offices.
If the company works efficiently, it will be allowed to sell its service to other banks, he said.
NguyenVan Thang, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Viettinbank, said thebank has developed a centre to transport cash to its branches andtransaction offices.
He said that the centre will open in 2015and help the bank to reduce expenses on personnel, salaries andvehicles, without creating problems for the banking system.
Thecentre will receive instructions from clients regarding time, place andamounts, and then assume responsibility for ensuring the cash wasdelivered, he said.-VNA