ABN AMRO has temporarily shut down 470 cash dispensers with immediate effect. „This emergency measure is needed in view of the growing number of violent ATM explosive attacks. All cash has been removed from the machines.”, according to the press release.
The shut down has closed off more than half of the bank’s 800-plus ATM estate.
„The past few months have seen a sharp rise in violent ATM explosive attacks, particularly targeting a certain type of cash dispenser used by ABN AMRO. The attacks are causing anxiety and unrest among inhabitants and businesses in the vicinity of the ATMs. As ABN AMRO puts the safety of the neighbourhood first, it has decided to shut down all cash dispensers of this type with immediate effect.”, the bank said in a statement.
Escalating violence
Last week, ABN AMRO had already closed dozens of a certain type of cash dispenser for the time being, and over the past days it has shut down and emptied all of them. The closed machines, totalling some 470, are located all over the country; 380 of them are ABN AMRO machines and 90 are former ABN AMRO machines that had been remodelled into uniform yellow cash dispensers in recent months.
The dispensers of this type have been repeatedly targeted by criminal gangs and the escalating violence used to explode them are a source of serious concern, leaving its traces throughout society.
„Neighbours and businesses must be able to feel safe. This is why the bank has decided to take this temporary measure.”, ABN Amro added.
At another 400 locations, ABN AMRO has different types of cash dispensers. These will remain open for use.
Available for use
Access to, and availability of cash in our society is the subject of agreements made between banks, the uniform ATM provider Geldmaat, the Dutch central bank (DNB) and civil society organisations taking part in the National Forum on the Payment System.
„This temporary emergency measure has no impact on these agreements. We understand that this measure may inconvenience people seeking to take out cash, but the safety of local inhabitants and businesses are our prime concern.”
The shut down has closed off more than half of the bank’s 800-plus ATM estate.
States the bank: „We understand that this measure may inconvenience people seeking to take out cash, but the safety of local inhabitants and businesses are our prime concern.”
Statistics related to physical attacks on ATMs in Europe
Recent figures from the European ATM Security Team showed that the number of physical attacks on ATMs in Europe has risen for the fourth consecutive year, rising by 27% when compared with 2017 (up from 3584 to 4549 incidents), and causing losses of EUR36 million, a 16% increase on 2017. The average cash loss per solid explosive attack is estimated at EUR 27,065.
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