Chinese ATM usage up 23% in 2015

The number of ATM cash withdrawals worldwide increased 10%.

Research from RBR shows the number of ATM cash withdrawals worldwide grew by 10% in 2015, the fastest rate since 2011.

99 billion cash withdrawals were made worldwide in 2015 according to international research and consulting firm RBR. Figures from the firm’s annual ATM research shows the number of withdrawals rose in all regions with themost notable increasesseen in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), where volumes were up by 16% and 8% respectively.

Growth in Chinese ATM usage accelerated to 23% as a result of rising financial inclusion and concerted efforts by banks to migrate more transactions to self-service. China accounted for a staggering 24 billionwithdrawals, almost a quarter of the global total.

RBR reports similar factors at play across many other developing markets in Asia-Pacific and MEA, with Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia amongst those where the increase in transactions was particularly strong.

Whilst the research shows that ATM usage isstable or even falling in some mature markets,mostcontinue to see an increase. In the USA, for example, where an increase in surcharges had contributed to a decline in withdrawal volumes over a number of years, transaction levelsactually rose, and in Spain, growth in the number of withdrawals picked up to 8% as the country’s economy started to recover.

RBR’s Rowan Berridge, who led the research, commented: “Global usage data points clearly to the enduring importance of the ATM channel, both in mature and developing markets. Despite rapid growth in cashless payments, demand for ATMs remains robust andwe forecast cash withdrawal volumes will continue to increase in most countries for the foreseeable future”.