Belgium : Access to 'Self-bank' ATMs

Starting tomorrow 1st July 2005, the first Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
located within Bank branches in Belgium will become accessible to
card-holders of other financial institutions, like those mounted externally
and identified by a 'Bancontact' or Mister Cash' logo. Withing the next few
months, an increasing proportion of such 'Self-bank' areas will be similarly
equipped, which should greatly increase the availability of ATMs to the
travelling public. The banks and the Banksys company which handles ATM
transactions have agreed that no additional charges will be applied
initially for cash withdrawals at ATMs in branches of other Banks, but they
reserve the right to review this agreement in the light of observed usage.
Whenever the branch concerned is not staffed, access to the Self-Bank area
typically requires inserting the card in a reader besde the entrance ;
presumably a sticker will be displayed to indicate which cards are accepted.

As this obviously requires a software upgrade, may I ask users concerned to
report details of their experience here in the next few weeks.

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels)

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:
Starting tomorrow 1st July 2005, the first Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
located within Bank branches in Belgium will become accessible to
card-holders of other financial institutions, like those mounted externally
and identified by a 'Bancontact' or Mister Cash' logo. Withing the next few
months, an increasing proportion of such 'Self-bank' areas will be similarly
equipped, which should greatly increase the availability of ATMs to the
travelling public. The banks and the Banksys company which handles ATM
transactions have agreed that no additional charges will be applied
initially for cash withdrawals at ATMs in branches of other Banks, but they
reserve the right to review this agreement in the light of observed usage.
Whenever the branch concerned is not staffed, access to the Self-Bank area
typically requires inserting the card in a reader besde the entrance ;
presumably a sticker will be displayed to indicate which cards are accepted.

As this obviously requires a software upgrade, may I ask users concerned to
report details of their experience here in the next few weeks.

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels)

ah, Banksys, that wonderful Belgian institution