As banks close their physical branches, the number of ATMs is also declining, limiting people’s access to cash. To prevent this, Danubius-Exim launched the ProxiCash app, in partnership with Lendrise. With ProxiCash, users initiate the withdrawal directly from their banking app, and the BlueCash 50 terminal becomes a fast and secure nearby cash-out point, with no additional integration required for the merchant.
“Through our partnership with ProxiCash, we bring innovation where it truly matters and turn this disadvantage into an opportunity for entrepreneurs and a useful service for their customers. In three quick steps, any Bluecash 50 device becomes an ATM,” said in a linkedin post Danubius-Exim, .
Customers can withdraw up to 400 lei directly in-store. In the first phase, withdrawals are available to customers using the banking apps of ING, Banca Transilvania, Revolut, Raiffeisen Bank, and UniCredit Bank.
ProxiCash solution impact
“For merchants, this means increased in-store traffic and a fixed commission on every transaction. For customers, it means more locations where they can withdraw cash, regardless of the area they are in,” Danubius explains.
The solution took several years to move from idea to full implementation. The ProxiCash concept was first presented in 2021 by Dan Cobeanu during the pitch session at the Open Banking Hackathon, organized by Finqware. From the very beginning, it was promoted as a solution to increase financial and social inclusion, offering the ability to transfer money at over 30,000 locations across Romania. ProxiCash went on to win the hackathon’s grand prize, worth €5,000.
Dan Cobeanu’s demo can be watched in the video below (starting with 03.50′):
“Digitalization does not mean elimination, but extension. Access to cash remains essential, and according to a recent geospatial analysis study of Romania’s ATM network, only around 10% of ATMs are under truly high pressure, while roughly 70% are located in densely populated areas but see low withdrawal volumes – clear evidence of inefficient distribution,” says Nic Bălăceanu, the founder and CEO of Lendrise, the company that have developed ProxiCash.
He added: “Moreover, only about 3.5% of populated grid areas have at least one ATM, covering approximately 38% of the population. Smart solutions can help fill the gaps left by banks, especially in peripheral or underbanked areas.”
According to the National Bank of Romania, at the end of the first half of 2025 the national ATM network comprised 10,028 terminals. Historically, the number of ATMs in Romania peaked at 11,492 in 2015, marking a contraction of approximately 13% over the past decade.
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