Cash machines in Belgium are now faster and safer after their software has been modified – reducing the average time for a basic transaction by 10-15 seconds, announced Batopin (the alliance of the four major banks responsible for rolling out neutral ATMs).
The software changes will speed up transactions, while other changes will make using the machines safer: all larger Cash points received discretion walls and stickers on windows and floor, for example.
"The teams continue to work on further improvements in the future," said Batopin in a press release on Friday. Additionally, the cash.be website will soon feature instructional videos.
Soon, all ATMs will also get Braille stickers for blind and visually impaired people. For communication with customers, Batopin can now also be reached via email and QR code. This year, Batopin opened 170 new Cash points (bringing the total in Belgium up to 390) and 533 ATMs (up to around 1,000).
"We are not blind to the social challenges posed by the transition of payments," CEO Jeroen Ghysel said on Friday. "But the users of our Cash points can continue to count on us. We keep listening to feedback and we keep working on clean and well-functioning machines."
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The company is accelerating the rollout of its Cash network and aims to open one new Cash point per working day from now on. "By the end of 2025, we will operate a network of 2,500 ATMs in a total of 950 locations," Ghysel said.
Access to cash has long been a pain point in Belgium: nowhere in Europe are people more dissatisfied with this than in Belgium, a poll by the European Central Bank showed earlier this year.
