News

Study: Profiling the South American ATM landscape

May 15, 2014

In developed markets, bank customers are turning to alternative channels to complete transactions they used to conduct at a branch. But in South America, the branch and ATM are still the chief banking channels. In remote locations, particularly, the ATM channel remains the most effective means of providing financial services to consumers.

A research note by Mercator Advisory Group, “Profiling the South American ATM Landscape,” seeks to provide a better understanding of the growth and value of the ATM to consumers in South America.

"With growth in the number of ATMs installed across South America likely to continue near double digits in the foreseeable future, the market’s potential is immense," said Tristan Hugo-Webb, associate director of the international advisory service at Mercator, and the primary author of the note. "The wide range of functionality available in South American ATMs demonstrates that the channel is already an important medium for financial institutions to interact with their fast-growing consumer base."

Highlights of the research note include:

• the estimated installed base of ATMs in South America by country;
• consumer use of the ATM for withdrawal and deposit compared with other banking channels (branch, bank agent, retail outlet); and
• an overview of functionality offered by some of the continent’s leading ATM networks. 

One of four exhibits in the nine-page note: