ABN AMRO Bank NV has teamed up with ING Groep NV
The initiative aims to ensure the availability of cash and to maintain and improve ATM accessibility across the country. Under the potential plan, ABN AMRO Bank, ING and Rabobank would transfer the ownership and operation of their ATMs to Geldservice Nederland, a joint venture set up by the three banks in 2011.
These exploratory discussions are conducted in close consultation with central bank De Nederlandsche Bank NV and are based on successful initiatives in Sweden and Finland, ABN AMRO said in a May 31 statement.
The participating lenders are also in close discussion with stakeholders to explore options for the future setup of an ATM network in the Netherlands. One of the options being considered is the development of a dedicated brand for ATMs in the country, similar to that of Sweden, which would make it easier for bank customers to deposit cash at any specially equipped ATMs within the network rather than using only their own banks' deposit machines, the company noted.
The three banks aim to sign a partnership agreement during the third quarter; in the meantime, no immediate changes will be made to their ATM services. The lenders will also be exploring ways in which other banks can take part in the initiative, ABN AMRO added.