ComBank's ATMs set new records in December

The automated teller machines (ATMs) of Commercial Bank dispensed Rs 37.321 billion in December 2015, averaging Rs 1.204 billion a day, and processing 6.682 million transactions on a daily average of 215,548, according to a Bank official.

The 618-terminal network, the largest owned by a single bank in the country, dispensed Rs 1,976.8 million on December 23, as festive shopping reached its peak around the island.

On 24 days in December, the Commercial Bank ATM network recorded withdrawals of over Rs 1 billion a day, and withdrawals of over Rs 1.5 billion a day, on five days, the official said. Total withdrawals in December 2015 reflected an increase of Rs 4,160 million or 12.5% compared to December 2014.

On December 23 and 31, the Commercial Bank processed a record 407,000 and 411,000 ATM and Point of Sale transactions.

The highest single day total for withdrawals recorded by the Commercial Bank ATM network to date was on Friday, April 10, 2015, when Rs 2.49 billion was withdrawn in the run up to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

He said the figures for December 2015 reflect a consistent increase in dependence on the Bank's ATM network, underline the indispensable role it plays in the lives of millions of people and reaffirms the value of the technology and the capacity, robustness and reliability of the network. These aspects assume greater significance during peak shopping seasons such as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and Christmas.

Holders of Commercial Bank's standard ATM cum Shopping Debit Cards can withdraw up to Rs 40,000 from the Bank's ATMs per withdrawal.

The Bank also offers customers the option of setting their own ATM withdrawal limits up to a maximum of Rs 100,000 a day, and a point-of-sale limit of up to Rs 500,000. Commercial Bank's overseas operations cover Bangladesh, where the Bank operates 18 branches and Myanmar, where it has a Representative Office in Yangoon. In September 2015, the Bank received regulatory approval to set up a full-fledged Tier I Bank in the Maldives.