BE/RBINOTE/14/2019
With a view to increase the capability of white label ATMs (otherwise called as WLAs), the Reserve Bank of India, has permitted White label ATM operators to
- Buy wholesale cash from RBI and Currency Chests
- Source cash from any Scheduled Bank, and
- Display Advertisements pertaining to non-financial products/services within the WLA premises among others.
Co-Branded ATM cards:
Further RBI has informed that
- Banks can issue co-branded ATM cards in partnership with the authorized WLAOs and also extend the benefit of ONUS transactions (where customer or cardholder and ATM are of the same bank) to their WLAs as well.
- With this liberalisation of RBI to WLAOs to source cash from retail outlets, given in December 2016 has been withdrawn.
- Non-bank entities who set up their own ATMs and operate are named WHITELABEL ATM operators (WLAOs) and such ATM are known as WHITELABEL ATMs (WLAs).
- RBI also clarified that WLAOs are authorized to buy wholesale cash, above a particular limit of Rs. 1 lakh pieces (and in multiples thereof) directly from its issue offices and currency chests against full payment which can be of any denomination.
- Also, these operators are permitted to source cash from any scheduled bank, which includes Co-operative banks and Regional Rural Banks.
- Subject to technical feasibility and certification by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), WLAOs are permitted to offer
- Bill Payment and
- Interoperable Cash Deposit Services
- Further, the operators are permitted to display advertisements which may pertain to Non-financial products/services anywhere within the WLA premises, which includes WLA screen, which of-course excludes the main sign board
- WLAOs also should also ensure that the advertisements run on the screen should disappear once the customer initiates a transaction.
- RBI also advised that all guidelines, safeguards, standards and control measures which are applicable to banks in regard to currency handling and cybersecurity guidelines should strictly be adhered to by the WLAOs.
Note:
At present, there are 8 WLAOs operating across the country viz: AGS Transact Technologies Ltd, BTI Payments Pvt Ltd, Hitachi Payment Services Pvt Ltd, Muthoot Finance Ltd, Riddi Siddhi Bullions Ltd, SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd, Tata Communications Payment Solutions Ltd, and Vakrangee Ltd.
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