News in Brief

ATM Usage Mixed in 2020

In 2020 the number of ATMs fell slightly according to RBR who are about to publish their ‘Global ATM Market and Forecasts to 2026’ report. In fact, 2020 was a mixed year where the long-term growth in ATM installations slowed rather than stopped. In 2020 51 countries, out of 110 studied, saw ATM growth. Egypt saw the greatest increase, 12%, as the government encouraged the use of ATMs to maintain access to cash and for depositing cash. On the other hand, China closed 50,000 ATMs on its own and many countries saw ATM services reduced awaiting better times and some providers used the pandemic to remove less profitable machines.

The report paints a slightly confusing picture for the future since it suggests growing ATM use in two thirds of countries and suggests ATMs have a role to play replacing functions previously carried out by tellers and to encourage financial inclusion while also saying that between now and 2026 falling cash volumes will cause ATM numbers to fall with China being a big part of this.