By Mahmoud Muhammad Kano
The CBN’s new draft guidelines set a clear target: every card‑issuing bank must have *at least one ATM for every 5,000 payment cards* it issues, with a *phased rollout*—30 % of the requirement by 2026 and *full 100 % compliance by 202.
All ATMs must be placed in *secure, well‑lit locations* that protect users and keep transaction details confidential; outdoor machines are allowed only if they’re *firmly bolted to the floor.
Before any *deployment, redeployment, or decommissioning*, banks (and independent ATM deployers) need *written CBN approval*. Independent ATM Deployers (IADs) must also obtain a licence and show evidence of a *partnership with a commercial bank for cash provisioning
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Additional security measures include *anti‑skimming devices, regular key changes (at least annually), free PIN‑change options for customers, and surveillance cameras* that record activity but not keystrokes .
To keep service reliable, *technical downtime must not exceed 72 hours*, cash must be stocked at all times, and *automatic refunds for failed transactions* are required.
The CBN will *audit, conduct onsite checks, and require monthly reports* (by the 5th of each month) from all institutions, with *penalties for non‑compliance.
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