ATM blasting impacts negatively on banking business
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 22, 2022 06:00
An emerging trend where criminals use explosives is a serious concern to the banking industry because it is not only just the loss of cash or damage to property that the banks need to worry about, but also the threat to human lives.
These physical attacks on ATMs have been on the rise countrywide with most of the perpetrators getting away without trace.
The Botswana Police Service (BPS) has in the past revealed that the criminals usually use mining explosives from unknown sources. Concerned by this scourge, members of the public across social media platforms have been calling for banks to consider increasing their physical security presence at all of their ATMs especially that a number of them are not manned.
Some even suggested that the government should consider helping banks by allowing police officers or soldiers to provide physical security at ATMs as blasting is currently keeping police on their toes.
Asked how the ATM blasting affects or has affected their businesses, local banks conceded to be concerned by the recent banking industry-wide escalation of cash heists and ATM blasting countrywide.
First National Bank Botswana's (FNBB) communications and public relations manager Boga Chilinde-Masebu said ATM blasting is a serious crime and affects banking operations due to damage to property and in some instances, perpetrators get away with cash. Chilinde-Masebu disclosed that these crimes disrupt operations and the ability to service customers through the convenience of widely accessible ATMs.
She further stated that FNBB continues to follow the necessary security measures and remains vigilant. She added that they continue to collaborate with the relevant authorities and assist in investigations as they work tirelessly to fight against this serious crime.
For his part, the public and media relations manager of ABSA Botswana, Spencer Moreri said the recent ATM incidences have negatively impacted on the smooth provision of services to their clients and the banking public. Moreri also said while their customers have been inconvenienced by the disruption of ATM services in the affected places, they continue to access cash through point-of-sale facilities that they offer through their partner merchants. Additionally, Moreri stated that exceptional services through a wide array of digital solutions such as spark by ABSA, Internet banking and mobile banking among others remain available to their customers. Asked what they are currently doing in responding to this matter, Moreri revealed to be providing the necessary support to the authorities investigating these matters and they continue to engage with stakeholders in the ATM value chain. “We continue to engage with them to come up with remedial interventions to strengthen security and reduce or possibly eliminate the new trend that we are now experiencing in our market. We remain committed to providing superior financial solutions to our clients and customers,” Moreri said. Meanwhile, BPS said of recent, there have been strings of ATM blasting with the latest being Stanbic Bank Botswana ATMs at Mogoditshane, Oodi, Mmadinare in which criminals went away with large some of cash and never arrested.