OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2012. ICBC has installed over 60,000 automatic teller machines (ATMs) by the end of first half of this year, to 60,028 ATMs. In China, ICBC is continuing leading the pack in terms of self-service capacity, reported the press-centre of ICBC.

ICBC ATMs are serving more customers with a variety of functions while there has been a steady increase in the number of ATM installed. During the first half of 2012, ICBC ATM transactions rose 23% to 2.95 billion involving a total amount of RMB 2.9 trillion or a jump of 34%. In January-June period, one ICBC ATM processes more than RMB 300,000 in 300 transactions each day on average, demonstrating the service enhancements.

While promoting ATM usage, ICBC pays particular attention on self-service banking in urban-rural areas. More ATMs are installed in counties. Statistics show that 17,700 ICBC ATMs have been installed in the counties serving the customers and households there to make withdrawals/deposits, transfer or use other financial services.

An ICBC executive said, consumer acceptance of self-service banking such as ATM is undoubtedly helped by the passage of the growing China economy and the way people changing their banking. In recent years, ICBC has stepped up its ATM deployment in order to better align with changing customer demand, with emphasis on availability, function upgrade and centralized management. Various measures have been taken to improve the operating capacity of self-service devices and customer services. Since 2011, number of cash advance/deposit transactions through ICBC ATMs surpassed that at ICBC counter. ICBC ATMs are now a main service channel for customers to draw/deposit cash.

While making sure enough number of ATMs are installed and running steadily, ICBC spends conscious effort to upgrade the functions and services of ATMs in a bid to provide more reliable, more convenient and faster services to customers. For example, in June this year, ICBC announced higher cash advance limit for personal customers to draw cash conveniently at ATM.

The limit of one cash advance at ATM increased from RMB 2,500 to RMB 3,000, limit of one cash advance at CRS (Cash Recycling System) increased from RMB 2,500 to RMB 5,000. Meanwhile, leveraging its technological strength and product innovation, ICBC launches a range of new ATM services such as fast cash advance, operation counter alert and dynamic password authentication to enhance the availability, security and user-friendliness of ATMs. Today, at ICBC ATMs customers can deposit cash, draw cash, transfer money, pay all kinds of fees (water, electricity, gas, communication, traffic fine), and all other services related to people's everyday living.