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Patna,(BiharTimes): Dhanteras provided the best proof of the rapid rise in the ATM culture in Bihar. Provisional figures available from different nationalized banks suggest that over Rs 300 crores were withdrawn from ATMs all over Bihar on the Dhanteras day and on its eve on Sunday. |
This figure does not include the amount withdrawn from the cheque for Dhanteras marketing. Experts are of the view that at least Rs 100 crore might have been withdrawn from the ATMs of private banks on this occasion.
Since the number of ATMs have increased very fast people have started relying heavily on them. This is one reason why the figure of money withdrawn from ATMs have almost got doubled. May be the amount withdrawn from cheque not risen as much or might have even declined in comparison to 2010 as it was Sunday on the eve of Dhanteras. With Saturday half day and Sunday close more customers might have switched over to ATMs for Dhanteras marketing this year.
Some media reports started stating that since the amount withdrawn from ATMs have doubled the Dhanteras marketing too have jumped by 100 per cent this year. But several bankers are of the view that the exact situation could only be known by the withdrawal made through cheques. It is a known fact that ATM withdrawals are affecting withdrawal through cheques, therefore, it would be too early to jump the gun.
For example, Rs 268 crore was withdrawn in the last two days from the 704 ATMs of the SBI in Bihar. While over Rs 160 crore was withdrawn on the occasion of Dhanteras on Monday, Rs 108 crore was withdrawn on its eve on Sunday.
In 2010 the figure was something between Rs 60 and 70 crore in these two days. But last year, the total number of SBI ATMs was just half––around 350. A significant increase in the number of ATMs has made it easy for people to withdraw money.
Customers withdrew over Rs 27 crores in the last two days from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) ATMs. Over Rs 15 crore was withdrawn from the PNB ATMs till late on Monday night and Rs 12 crore on the eve of Dhanteras. The total amount withdrawn in 2010 in the same period was around Rs 13 crore. PNB has 376 ATMs across Bihar against just 180 last year.
Customers withdrew Rs 14 crore from the Bank of India ATMs across the state in the last two days––Rs eight crore till late on Monday night while Rs six crore on Sunday. In 2010, around Rs six crore was withdrawn from the BoI ATMs in the two-day period.
At several points in Patna and elsewhere ATMs ran out of cash.
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