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S. African bank goes wireless with security system

March 7, 2002

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - First National Bank has installed high-tech GSM cell phone-based alarms and monitoring systems in all its ATMs countrywide.

Jean Ochse, head of the bank's ATM network, said that the GSM alarm system had already dramatically cut down on the number of ATM break-ins which in 2001 cost FNB over 10 million rand in cash and property damage.

"Banks constantly need to keep a step ahead of criminals," Ochse said.

Ochse said that the new wireless system is an improvement over traditional ATM alarm systems relied on telephone lines or radio transmissions which could be tampered with or cut.

If an attempt is made to tamper with or break into an ATM, an alarm will be recorded at a central control center by means of an SMS message and a reaction unit will be dispatched to the site.

The maintenance, monitoring and response contract had been outsourced to Securicor Gray, in conjunction with Cellsecure and Crewe's Security.

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