Mandiri, BCA Bank ATMs Inter-Connected

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Automatic teller machines of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk. and PT Bank Central Asia (BCA) were officially connected on Monday through ATM Prima.

"As of now customers of Mandiri and BCA banks could conduct transfers, cash withdrawal and check their balance through BCA,m Mandiri or Prima ATMs," Mandiri Bank president director Zulkifli Zaini said at the launch of the service cooperation at Bank Indonesia Building.

He said with the service cooperation customers would not bother visiting the banks to conduct the three transactions as they could not be carried out through ATMs.

BCA president director Jahja Setiatmadja meanwhile said the cooperation was aimed at increasing efficiency.

"The cooperation provides a lot of efficiency in the banking industry. If people are already accustomed to conduct transactions through ATMs cash society will dwindle and the use of bills will be economized," he said.

Jahja said for checking balance customers would be charged Rp3,000 while for transfers and cash withdrawals Rp5,000 per transaction.

Customes could carry out the three transactions at 31,700 ATMs connected through ATM Prima including 8,575 BCA ATMs.

Bank Indonesia governor Darmin Nasution said on the occasion that the inter-connection could increase efficiency.

"What we launched today was part of efforts to increase efficiency in transactions through ATM cards," he said.

He said the cooperation was not for the interest of the two banks only but also 49 other banks whose customers use debt or credit cards.

"The inter-connection also shows Indonesia's banks' commitment to improving their services," he said.

He said a reliable and efficient service system would continue to develop in Indonesia to help support development and national economic growth.(T007)