The ATM service of post offices was launched on February 15, but six months on it is still to find an adequate number of takers.
At CC Block post office in Salt Lake, the number of customers who have opted for ATM cards stands at a measly 263 out of about 7,500 customers who hold savings accounts with the post office.
This is not for lack of effort. The post office has been undertaking a drive since June to make customers apply for ATM cards. Banners and hoardings were put up. A notice with the announcement “ATM card available” is affixed to a counter visible to all who walk in even now.
“But most of our customers are senior citizens who are not comfortable with technology. Many are illiterate and so are unable to operate an ATM machine. After all, we offer services to the poorer sections too. Nowhere else can you open a recurring deposit account with Rs 10 and a savings bank account with Rs 50,” said post master Pradip Kumar Chakraborty.
that the post office
is offering
But even who want to use the service are getting disheartened on learning that the India Post ATM cannot yet be used to buy merchandise, shop online or even withdraw cash from ATMs of other banks. “The only utility is you can bypass the queue at the cash counter,” the post master said. The ATM booth is open from 8am to 8pm.
Customers complain that often money cannot be withdrawn even from the post office’s own ATM machine. “This is because the machine refuses to disburse cash once the balance falls below Rs 1 lakh or so. That happens often since not much money is put in the machine at a time,” said an employee at the ATM counter.
One can withdraw cash from any of the ATMs in the major post offices. In the West Bengal circle, 65 ATMs have been approved, including 31 in the city, according to postmaster general, Calcutta, Subrat Das. Of the 31, 25 are already operational in the city. Other than at CC Block, ATMs are available at GPO, Park Street, Kankurgachhi, Beleghata, Cossipore and Barasat post offices among others.
“But once we become a fullfledged bank and all these services are available, the demand for our ATM cards is bound to grow,” Chakraborty said.
