If you’re a client of any of the banks in the territory of the Virgin Islands, you are guaranteed to meet a malfunctioned Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
At any given time BVI residents desirous of conducting transactions at any of the main ATM’s are consistently meet with machines that are down, no matter the time of day. The ATM’s which should serve as a convenience, have now become the ultimate inconvenience for conducting banking business due to poorly maintained machines both on Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Jost Van Dye and Anegada residents do not have access to ATM’s.
The general consensus among residents is that this is experienced on a daily basis at all of the territories four major banks which utilize the ATM feature: Banco Popular, 1st Bank, CIBC First Caribbean Bank and Republic Bank.
In speaking to high ranking bank officials at all three banks, the common reason being presented for the ATM’s consistent malfunction is a lack of maintenance as technicians are sourced overseas, as close as Puerto Rico. A similar situation is experienced by local businesses that use elevators, when they malfunction, businesspersons have a sincerely difficult time locating technicians suitable to issue repairs.
The situation is said to have worsened as result of COVID-19 and the inability for technicians to travel to service ATM’s which are not owned by local banks but leased from international companies.
Other reasons provided were faulty dispensers, worn out card readers, broken key pads or buttons, receipt malfunctions, software glitches and the immensely high level of usage at ATM’s particularly Banco Popular which officials say cause consistent breakdowns.
One resident said, “It’s a total inconvenience, a waste of time. Thank God ATH Móvil came on stream or else we would be in trouble, but sometimes you just need cash and they are always down.”
Another said: “Honestly, it’s just frustrating going from ATM machine to ATM machine and none of them are working, I don’t know how they expect people to handle their business.”
The present situation seemingly has no immediate remedy or time frame by which it will be rectified. Meanwhile, residents continue to be inconvenienced. At some points there is no cash, others times clients are able to make withdrawals but not deposits or vice versa and often times no feature works at all.