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ATM is the most popular e-banking channel in Pakistan; mobile is the fastest-growing

June 23, 2014

Nearly 400 new ATMs were installed in Pakistan during Q1 of 2014, up 5.1 percent from the preceding quarter, according to the latest payment systems review released by the State Bank of Pakistan. This year's additions bring the country's total to 8,077.

There remains plenty of room for growth in Pakistan's ATM market — the most recent World Bank figures put Pakistan's ATM ratio at 5.4 per 100,000 adults. This compares with neighboring Turkey, at 63.4 ATMs per 100,000 adults, and with the combined EU nations at 86.4 per 100,000. 

ATMs remained the preferred channel for cash withdrawals, accounting for 81.2 percent of the total cash withdrawn, the SBP said. Among e-banking transactions (including Internet and POS) ATM-based transactions constituted a volume share of 63.8 percent and a value share of 8.1 percent. Total transactions carried through ATMs grew 5.9 percent for the quarter, and total transaction value rose 6.2 percent.

Internet banking constituted a volume share of 4.4 percent and a value share of 2.1 percent, mobile phone banking constituted a volume share of 1.6 percent and a value share of 0.2 percent and call-center banking constituted a volume share of 0.2 percent and a value share of 0.03 percent in total e-banking transactions.

Among banking channels, mobile is experiencing the fastest growth, the SBP said, with an increase of 14.1 percent in volume and 13.3 percent in value for the quarter.