In a bid to relieve public stress, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently imposed sanctions on banks, fining them ₦150 million for failing to ensure their ATMs were regularly stocked with cash. But what is really behind this issue?
During a visit to an ATM stand in Lagos, we spoke with a customer who shared that eight out of ten ATMs are either out of service or have no cash. “This Bank never has money in their ATM,” she said.
“Even when they do, it’s usually only until noon, and then they stop working. The only option is to go into the bank and make transfers yourself.”
Techeconomy engaged with an insider at one of Nigeria’s top-tier banks to understand why this problem seems unending. We wanted to know: Why aren’t banks keeping their ATMs filled? Do they deserve the sanctions imposed by CBN?
In response, the insider said, “That’s a broad conclusion for a bank that has over 800 branches. I’m not sure how many branches the customer has visited before arriving at that. However, I can tell you several challenges faced by banks in Nigeria and not just ours, but it is heavier on us because of our high number of branches.”
He continued, “Yes, there is a CBN sanction on banks when your ATMs are not dispensing. The regulatory body expects the bank to load their machines when there is an obvious epidemic in the sector called “POS.”
The PoS Epidemic: A Growing Concern
The PoS (Point of Sale) phenomenon has become a big issue in the Nigerian banking sector, contributing heavily to cash shortages in ATMs.
With the high reliance on PoS agents across the country, many Nigerians are using them as alternatives to traditional banking transactions. However, PoS agents, who often carry large sums of cash for transactions, are now becoming primary players in the liquidity problems facing banks.
“PoS agents are constantly on standby at ATMs and business locations, to collect and buy cash from customers or businesses,” the insider explained.
“While these agents may seem to help by making things easier and providing access to cash withdrawal or deposit, in the larger scheme, they’re creating problems. The fact is, businesses are becoming more reliant on PoS agents rather than making traditional cash deposits in banks.
“They are making things difficult for both the masses and the Banks.”
This has caused a drastic reduction in the amount of cash flowing into the banking system, leading to shortages at ATMs. It’s reported that in some urban areas, PoS agents have begun hoarding cash to capitalize on the high demand, further straining ATM services.
While the CBN sanctions are meant to encourage better service across ATMs, it’s still not clear how effective they have been. The insider acknowledged the CBN’s role in attempting to regulate ATM cash availability but also noted the complications faced by banks in meeting these demands, especially when dealing with the PoS issue.
“Yes, the CBN expects us to have cash readily available at ATMs, but what is the bank to do when there is a continuous shortage of cash in circulation? How many companies are still making cash deposits? Most businesses rely on PoS agents now,” the insider said.
According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the number of PoS terminals in Nigeria surged by 129% over the past three years, with an increasing percentage of Nigerians using PoS services daily. This growth in PoS usage has greatly impacted the ability of banks to maintain sufficient cash flow in their ATMs.
This ATM cash shortage crisis is not an isolated banking issue; it is intertwined with Nigeria’s economic challenges. The scarcity of cash is just one symptom of larger financial challenges the country is facing, including inflation and the ongoing transition to a cashless economy.
The government’s vision of digital financial inclusion, paired with inflation and currency devaluation, has placed high pressure on the banking system. As cashless transactions become more prevalent, many Nigerians are still challenged with access to physical currency for daily needs. These economic factors have compounded the challenges banks face in providing adequate ATM services.
Addressing the Root Cause: PoS Regulation
The key to solving the ATM cash issue lies in addressing the root cause—the unchecked proliferation of PoS agents. While PoS services are undoubtedly improving access to cash for many Nigerians, the increasing demand and the role PoS agents play in withdrawing cash from the banking system are draining the liquidity needed to sustain ATM networks.
The insider stressed, “Before banks can begin to solve the ATM shortage, there needs to be a conversation around regulating the PoS sector. We need to ensure that businesses are encouraged to deposit cash back into the system, rather than hoarding it.”
“The menace of POS first needs to be tackled.”
Meanwhile, the apex bank had recently stated that “Ensuring seamless cash flow is paramount to maintaining public trust and economic stability. The CBN will not hesitate to impose further sanctions on any institution found violating its cash circulation guidelines.”
The statement further read, “The CBN’s investigations and monitoring will continue to scrutinise cash hoarding and rationing, both at bank branches and by Point-of-Sale (POS) operators. The Central Bank is working with security agencies to crack down on illegal cash sales and operational violations, including enforcing POS operators’ daily cumulative withdrawal limit of N1.2 million.
“The new policy on cash-based transactions (withdrawals) in banks, aims at reducing (NOT ELIMINATING) the amount of physical cash (coins and notes) circulating in the economy, and encouraging more electronic-based transactions (payments for goods, services, transfers, etc.)”
