Karnataka Bank to step up ATMs

As part of its drive to make banking more convenient for its customers, Mangalore-based Karnataka Bank plans to increase its ATM network to 100 by December this year.

This will be its second phase of the ATM network expansion. It added three more ATMs recently, taking the number of its own ATMs to 15. The bank which had 12 ATMs of its own in the first phase of ATM network recently inked a pact with India Switch Company, Chennai.

The bank installed its ATMs at Bangalore and Mumbai in its second phase of ATM network expansion plan. With this addition, the number of banks' own ATMs in Bangalore rose to nine.

Besides Bangalore, the bank has its own ATMs in Chennai and Mumbai. Apart from its own 15 ATMs, thebank has tie-ups with Corporation Bank. The mutual sharing agreement between the banks allows ATM card holders to access over 800 ATMs for "free".

The bank, which is technology-savvy and customer-centric is well set to launch Visa Debit Card facilities shortly.

Meanwhile, the bank has raised the interest rates on its non-resident (external) rupee deposit (NRE) scheme and its foreign currency non-residents (banks) scheme for British Pound, US Dollar and Euro deposits from March 1.