More Lawson c-stores to get ATMs in Japan

According to a report in the Kyodo News, Daiwa plans to begin offering ATM services, including deposits, withdrawals and remittances, on April 15, and Asahi plans to follow suit in July.

The two companies are both owned by Daiwa Bank Holdings.

Lawson ATM Networks was established in May 2001. Major participants include Mitsubishi, four major financial groups (Mizuho, Mitsubishi-Tokyo, UFJ and SMBC), Japan's city banks and several regional banks.

Japan's second-biggest convenience store operator after 7-Eleven, Lawson announced plans to install ATMs in all of its 7,414 stores throughout Japan in June. In October, the company said it had reached a seven-year servicing agreement with IBM Japan. When the IBM contract was announced, Lawson had installed machines in 340 stores.