BANKS ADVISED BY RBI TO UPGRADE ATMS

BE/RBI NOTE/21/2018

Reserve Bank of India, the Central Bank has viewed the banks’ lethargic attitude in upgrading the ATMs very seriously.  RBI has now come out with strict timelines to upgrade the ATMs else face action.

Details:

1. The Timeline reads that banks should implement a series of security measures by August and thus ensure to upgrade all the ATMs with the latest supported version of operations, in a phased manner till June 2019.
2. There are over 2.06 lakh ATMs PAN India as on February 2018, as per statistics available
3. RBI had already pointed out in April 2017 about the ATMs running on Windows XP and/or other supported operating systems, and thus made it clear that they should ensure to upgrade their systems with immediate effect with suitable control measures enumerated in the list circulated by them.
4. A letter has been again circulated to the Heads of Banks and white label ATM operators, to ensure upgrading of ATMs with immediate effect which further adds that the circular is being issued in view of increased ATM frauds.
5. The circular adds that the vulnerability of the situtation is grave and that the non upgradation would only affect the interests of the banks’ customers very badly, let apart the banks’ image would also go for a toss.
6. The action for non implementation of above guidelines would only initiate strict supervisory enforcement action under applicable provisions of the Banking Rgulations Act 1949 and/or Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007.
7. The security measures advised to be implemented by August include
   1. BIOS password,
   2. Disabling USB Ports,
   3. Disabling auto-run facility,
   4. Applying the latest patches of operating system and other softwares,
   5. Terminal security solution,
   6. Time-based admin access to systems.
8. The security measures advised to be implemented by March 2019 include
   1. Anti skimming and White listing solutions
9. Also, it is advised that the ATMs shall be upgraded with supported versions of operating system in the following phases:
   1. 25 per cent by September and
   2. 50 per cent by December
   3. All ATMs to be upgraded by June 2019
10. Banks are also advised to take the circular to the Board of Directors on their next meeting together with their proposed action plan for its implementation and reprot the progress to RBI from time to time.