Regulatory Alerts2013-11-25
Extension of the Period for Making Inventories of ATMs and Feeding them With Cash
The Saudi Central Bank extends the mandatory physical inventory period for bank-owned ATMs from daily to a maximum of five working days, citing enhanced remote monitoring capabilities and a formal request from the Operating Banks Operations Committee. Under the new directive, banks must immediately refill ATMs when cash levels drop to 20% of total capacity and conduct immediate physical counts whenever customer complaints or claims arise, regardless of standard operational schedules. All affected institutions are required to implement these measures and submit a compliance report to the Authority within one month of the circular's issuance.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Saudi Central Bank Head Office
Banking Technology Department 9040982614
Ref. No.: 351000009927 Date: 1435/01/22 Attachments:
Ref. No.: / M.A.Q / Date: Attachments:
Circular
Dear Manager,
Subject: Extension of the Period for Inventorying and Refilling ATMs of Operating Banks.
With best regards,
With reference to the Authority's Circular No. 2193/M.A.T/102 dated 13/2/1419H, which mandated banks to conduct physical inventories of all bank-owned ATMs daily, whether located inside or outside branch premises, and the related instructions issued in the Saudi Payments Rules and Procedures (SPAN Business Book) circulated via Circular No. 341000076614 dated 20/6/1434H. Following the review of the request submitted by the Operating Banks Operations Committee (BOOC) regarding the extension of the current ATM inventory period. And in light of the technical developments in systems and ATMs that support their monitoring and remote access to withdrawal transaction records, the Authority has decided to extend the prescribed period for ATM inventory and refilling as follows:
- Setting the maximum period for ATM inventory and refilling to five working days for all ATMs inside and outside branch premises.
- Banks must immediately refill the ATMs when the cash level in any machine drops to 20% of the total cash across all denominations.
- In the event of customer complaints or claims requiring a physical inventory, the bank must conduct it immediately, regardless of the bank's standard schedule.
For information, implementation, and reporting to the Authority on actions taken within one month from its date.
Yours sincerely,,,
Deputy Governor for Banking Operations Hashim bin Uthaim Al-Haqeel
To: Al-Saleh
P.O. Box 2992, Riyadh 11169, Telegram Address: Markazi, Telex: 404400, Tel: 4419567, Fax: 4662851