According to Pham Tien Dung, head of SBV’s Payment Department, commercial banks are required to frequently check their ATM system, particularly those installed at industrial parks, export processing zones and residential areas. ATMs frequently run out of cash during holiday periods.
Under the SBV's Decree 96, which imposes administrative penalties on the banking sector, banks will be fined VND15 million (USD700) if their ATM machines run out of cash.
Banks will be fined for poor ATM service
The SBV will also impose a fine of VND10 million (USD469) to VND15 million (USD700) on banks that suddenly suspend ATM operations without at least 24 hours prior notice.
Pham Trung Kien, deputy head of Agribank’s representative office in the southern region, said that the bank has prepared cash and technical staff for the Tet holiday.
A representative from VietCombank’s branch in HCM City said that the bank now has four groups which specialise in managing ATM operations, but the bank will arrange eight additional groups for the holiday.
The banks will assign staff to be in charge of solving any ATM-related problems for customers but only until February 13, two days before the start of the Lunar New Year.
According to Nguyen Dinh Quy, director of Eximbank’s Card Centre, messages will be sent to be bank to inform of ATMs which have run out of money or face technical problems.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy director of HCM City’s branch in HCM City, said that the SBV has worked with commercial banks, the management board of industrial parks and export processing zones and enterprises which have many workers are being told to balance the time for the payment of salaries and Tet bonuses in order to ease pressure for ATMs. Companies are also recommended to pay salaries and Tet bonuses directly for their staff.
People can call the SBV’s hotline at 08.238211230 to report ATM problems, Minh noted.
