State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Governor has instructed banks to examine all ATMs after the death of a schoolgirl at an ATM in HCM City on April 1.

A “dangerous” ATM in HCM City.

SBV Payment Department Chief Bui Quang Tien reported that banks would immediately check the safety of their ATMs and must report to SBV prior to April 8. Directors of provincial bank branches will be in charge of this job in their areas.

The SBV order was handed down four days after a little girl was electrocuted by faulty wiring at an ATM of the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) in HCM City. The incident in is the first in Vietnam. Previously, many people complained that they received gentle electric shocks at ATMs, especially during wet days.

Tien noted that SBV frequently recommends commercial banks ensure safety at ATMs. The accident in HCM City is rare, but will make banks more cautious. Banks do admit that the electric phenomenon at ATMs is common and the only solution is burying stakes into the ground to prevent power leaks. Yet banks in high-rise buildings are not allowed to bury stakes.

After the death of the first victim, banks must pay attention to this task. “If the building managers don’t allow us to bury stakes, we will move our ATMs,” asserted an official of at a HCM City bank.

A HCM City banker estimated that the average lifespan of an ATM is around 5 years, but most are still used after being repaired with new components.

There are over 9000 ATMs in Vietnam. In HCM City, out of 1300 ATMs inspected, 121 machines were reported to be unsafe, equivalent to 10 percent. HCM City Power Company asked banks to install equipment to prevent power leaks at their ATMs.

Hanoi Power Company began checking ATMs on April 5. This job is scheduled to finish before April 7.

PV

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