site.btaBelgium Plans to Restore ATM Network to 5,000 Units by 2026

The number of ATMs in Belgium will increase next year due to pressure from consumers and recommendations from the European Central Bank, local media reported. The country plans a gradual restoration of the number of ATMs to 5,000, the level they were at in 2019.

In recent years in Belgium, where every merchant has a POS terminal, the number of ATMs and bank branches has been significantly reduced. The reasons for this move included frequent ATM and commercial robberies involving cash, as well as the growing use of banking apps on mobile devices. Consumer protection organizations have repeatedly noted that these changes make it more difficult for older people, who are used to cash and do not use electronic devices for banking.

The new goal of the authorities is to ensure that by 2030, every citizen will have access to an ATM within five kilometers of their home. The widespread introduction of electronic payments is seen as a measure against the "shadow" economy, but recently, Belgian authorities warned people to also keep cash on hand in case of an emergency, which could affect the supply of electricity and access to the internet due to the increasing sabotage of electrical and telecommunications networks.