Two top banks in South Africa have added more ATMs to their networks in the past three years.
FNB added 11 automated teller machines (ATMs) to its network over the past 3 years, and Capitec has expanded its network by 389 ATMs over the same period.
Both banks told MyBroadband that their strategies regarding ATMs in South Africa focus on optimising the banking channels available to their customers.
While FNB increased ATM and automated deposit-taking (ADT) devices over the past 3 years, this followed a slight decline of around 20 units between 2022 and 2024.
Currently, its ATM and ADT network comprises slightly fewer devices at 4,781 than it did in December 2022, when it had 4,789 ATMs.
FNB points of presence COO, Elmar Gräter, said the goal was to maintain a strong presence across local markets.
“We continuously assess customer demand, transaction trends, and market opportunities, and where there is a clear need, we invest in and optimise our points of presence network,” Gräter said.
“If the bank removes any devices, we do so with a calculated approach to ensure there are sufficient alternative points of presence in the local market so that there is no impact on customers.”
The bank has started replacing its traditional ATMs with ADTs — a move it said was aimed at significantly improving customer experience by offering additional cash services.
“We want to ensure that there are more points of presence catering for cash deposits, in addition to cash withdrawals,” Gräter said.
“Moreover, the increased deposit-taking facilities support local market cash recycling and help reduce our dependence on cash-in-transit services.”
He added that FNB’s new single-tower recycling devices were significantly smaller, making it easier for the bank to optimise branch space.
“This allows the bank to add more devices with the same functionality to existing branches, thereby improving overall efficiency,” Gräter said.
Capitec told MyBroadband that it continued to observe strong engagement across all banking channels as its client base grows.
“The rise in ATM usage, branch visits, and self-service transactions reflects our expanding footprint and the convenience of our omni-channel approach,” it said.
“Overall, we have a network of 866 branches and 8,771 ATMs and cash-accepting devices. Our focus remains on making banking simpler, more accessible, and more affordable for every South African.”
MyBroadband also asked Standard Bank, another bank that has added ATMs in recent years, about its strategy regarding ATMs, but it hadn’t responded by the time of publication.
Its latest results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2026 showed a slight year-on-year expansion in its ATM network.
Standard Bank launched 48 new ATMs in South Africa year-on-year. However, it still has 692 fewer ATMs than it did in 2021 when it began closing ATMs across the country.
The bank’s ATM footprint declined from 4,188 in 2021 to 3,448 in 2025, then increased to 4,996 in 2026.
Capitec has also expanded its ATM network, while other banks like Absa and Nedbank have been reducing theirs as South Africans reduce their reliance on cash.
Discovery Bank’s SpendTrend26 study found that, while cash use was “holding steady” in South Africa, cards and digital payments had become the preferred payment method for 94% of respondents.
Discovery Bank’s report was based on an analysis by it and payments processor Visa conducted across more than 12 million cards and billions of transactions in 2025.
The firms surveyed more than 1,000 South African consumers to better understand their spending habits.
Of these, 42% said they had used cash only a few times a month, while 23% said they used cash once a month or not at all. The remaining 35% used cash a few times a week or almost every day.
“This pattern suggests that cash is no longer the default, but rather a fallback option,” Discovery Bank said.
The use of cash in South Africa has been narrowing to specific practical use cases, including tipping, parking, and taxi payments.
Many believe that South Africa will become completely cashless in the near future, with 55% of respondents saying this would become a reality within 5 years.
The table below tracks ATM network fluctuations from Capitec, FNB, and Standard Bank from 2022 to 2026.
Bank20222023202420252026Change
Capitec
7,1787,9888,3828,7988,771
1,593
FNB
4,7894,7904,7704,7754,781
-8
Standard Bank
3,7803,6143,4723,4483,496
-284
