PayNearby sets up 100,000 micro-ATMs across India

By Leandra Monteiro

In a bid to strengthen the ATM infrastructure in the country and to ensure that every citizen has access to cash anytime, anywhere, PayNearby, a digital payments company and largest branchless banking network in India, has established a colossal network of 100,000 micro-ATMs (MATMs) operating across India.

PayNearby, with its 100,000 MATMs is one of the fastest-growing MATM networks in the country. The company is looking to aggressively seed these ATMs across its microentrepreneurs across the country and enable easy cash withdrawal at every doorstep at the last mile. Currently, PayNearby witnesses over ₹ 5 billion  worth of ATM withdrawal every month.

The distribution of ATMs within India is very unbalanced, with metros having 53 ATMs per 100,000 population, urban areas having 69 ATMs per 100,000 population, semi-urban areas having 53 ATMs per one lakh population and the rural areas having a meagre 9 ATMs per 100,000 population. When compared to its global counterparts, India is among the countries to have the lowest ATM penetration in the world. As compared to the world average of 50 ATMs per 100,000 population, India is way below, at an average of 28 ATMs per 100,000 population. Compared to this, China is at 98 ATMs per 100,000 population and Brazil at 105 ATMs per 100,000 population.

Given that over 65% of the Indian population resides in rural India, yet they account for only 20% of all ATMs in the country. The cost of infrastructure acquisition and servicing is one of the main reasons that formal financial institutions find it difficult to operate ATMs in rural areas. To resolve this, PayNearby partners with neighbourhood retail stores and through its tech-led distribution network ensures high-end technology is simplified for easy consumption at the last mile, and all essential banking services are available to every citizen in the country through an assisted format at a store nearby. PayNearby is enabling its microentrepreneurs with low-cost ATM devices so that the last mile has easy access to cash withdrawal.

Speaking on the development, Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby said, “At PayNearby, we have been diligently working towards the financial and digital empowerment of all citizens of India so that they have access to essential banking services. And, establishing a one lakh-strong ATM network is a landmark for us. Considering its USPs such as portability, affordability and low maintenance, micro-ATMs have been effective in curbing the infrastructure costs incurred, especially in rural India where a full-fledged ATM becomes unviable.

PayNearby is nearly at half of the distribution of traditional ATMs in the country, and in the coming years aspires to surpass this number and set up about five lakh MATMs in the country so that every citizen in the country has easy access to cash that is lying in their accounts. W e will continue expanding the micro-ATM network to all corners of India and aiding more customers with their financial needs anytime, anywhere. Zidd aage badhne ki!”