SAMA calls on banks to enhance ATM security

JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) is calling on local banks to introduce new methods and technologies to monitor the performance and security of their ATM machines, urging them to maintain and update them regularly.
A SAMA source said that the monetary authority is taking these steps as precautionary measure to protect bank clients and ease the exchange of information and security. This is also expected to safeguard against suspicious operations such as robberies. He said that SAMA prefers for local banks to change their ATM machines in line with newer models, especially with regard to those that have been in service for more than nine years.
The secretary general of the Banking Committee on Information and Awareness in Saudi Banks, Talaat Hafeth, said that they have prepared a strategy to follow up on the performance of ATMs in two ways: Monitoring operations to make sure that all machines are working properly and have the necessary cash, and through the operation of an inspection and maintenance team. He said that banks must immediately repair any machines that are faulty.
He added that SAMA is continually following up on banks to ensure the efficient and safe operation of all ATMs, noting that there are 16,699 ATMS in the Kingdom as of this year, with the number of ATM cards standing at 21,140,403.