Postal Dept to roll out ATMs to retain customers

Postal Dept to roll out ATMs to retain customers
Rajay Deep/TNS

Bathinda, June 17
The Postal Department, after receiving a dent in the strength of its customers due to the facilities offered by banks, is now ready to roll out its banking services. As part of this move, the department is going to install Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the head post offices.
The installation of ATMs is the part of the core banking project of the India Post that will focus on faster transfer of funds and easier withdrawals. As the department is in no mood to delay it further, the locations to install ATMs are being finalised in the state.
In the past couple of years, the postal department authorities were reportedly observing that due to the failure to adopt technology in its services, it had been losing customers to the banks, which were using technology to its fullest.
Finding the step of the banks proving to be of multiple benefits including helping in reducing the rush at their counters and providing their customers with efficient and rapid services the postal department also decided to improve its quality of service and operational efficiency.
Toeing the lines of its competitors (banks), the postal department that still has the pride of having the largest banking network in the country, once it is in place, will also provide 24-hour banking facility to its customers.
The move is being mainly seen as a great relief to all, who have savings accounts in the post offices, from the trouble of standing in long queues for withdrawing and depositing money, making enquiries regarding outstanding balance, etc. Besides, it will also attract new customers.
According to the information available, the postal department has planned 1,000 ATMs as part of the India Post 2012 project.
It has also been informed that the department is also working on issuing debit cards. As per the scheme, for other post offices where the ATMs are not planned, debit cards will be issued to customers who can use the other banks' network of ATMs to withdraw money and access transactions in merchant establishments.
As the head post of Bathinda has also been selected for the installation of an ATM in the first phase, the officials posted here are busy in finding a suitable location as they have to submit the report to the authorities concerned within a stipulated time period.
Confirming the details, the postmaster, head post office Bathinda, Parshottam Dass said, "The department is also going to link up its ATMs with the national network to which the ATMs of all banks are hooked up. After that, the post office customers will be able to enter into transactions at the ATMs of other banks and vice versa."
"We are working at a fast pace to get the ATM installed here and after that the cards will be issued to the customers as per the directions from the higher authorities," he added.
However, the post master could not divulge more details including the withdrawal limits through the ATM and annual service charges for the ATM users.