SBI brings ATMs to the doorstep of customers

The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has been constantly trying to extend all possible help to the customers during the pandemic. As a latest measure, the bank is bringing mobiles to the doorstep of its customers.

These mobile ATMs are already visiting different areas of major cities. On Wednesday the bank twitted that the service has been launched in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi and Uttarakhand.

“Our team is facilitating #MobileATM service to our customers during this difficult time to ensure safe and convenient banking facility,” wrote SBI.

Doorstep services

All you need to do to take the benefit of this service is just send a WhatsApp message or make a call to SBI customer care, and a mobile ATM will come to your location as per its availability.

This will indeed bring respite to many customers trying to maintain physical distance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The service was introduced by SBI on August 15, 2020 in a very limited way. During the second wave that facility has been ramped up by the bank.

These ATMs can dispense cash and carry out other transactions like any regular ATM. It is an ATM that is placed on a van.

Withdrawal rules

SBI has revised its ATM withdrawal rules with effect from July 1, 2019. According to information on its website, the bank allows 8 free transactions to its regular savings account holders to transact in a month in metro cities. These includes 5 free transactions from SBI ATMs and 3 from ATMs of any other bank.

Non-metro cities get 10 free ATM transactions, in which 5 transactions can be made from SBI machines and an equal number from machines of other banks. But temporarily to help the people during the pandemic, these restrictions have been lifted.

Doorstep banking

SBI is offering ‘doorstop banking’ experience for its customers at the onset of second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

A bunch of services such as cash withdrawal, collect of cheque-DD, issuance of new cheque book, etc, is available in the ‘doorstop banking’ facility. SBI along with Indian Banking Association or IBA has started these customer-friendly services.

The service request can be placed through calls at toll-free numbers 1800-1037-188 and 1800-1213-721 on working days. The service request for registration is done at the home branch itself with a nominal service charge. Doorstep banking service is available to only fully KYC-compliant customers.

Account holders with a registered mobile number within 5 km radius of their home branch will be able to avail these services.

Go digital

SBI has repeatedly reminded customers to use digital banking services in these Covid times to transfer money or use other services. The bank’s customers can avail the facility through YONO, YONO Lite and its online banking service.

Apart from SBI, banks such as HDFC, PNB, ICICI, Axis, IndusInd, Kotak Mahindra are also offering doorstep banking services facility to their customers in this tough time.

SBI has the largest customer base of around 50 crore and a vast branch network of around 22,500 across India.