South Africa's central bank to convert 30,000 ATMs into shared network

The South African Reserve Bank will pilot white-labelled ATMs in January, turning all 30,600 machines into a shared, unbranded network with free transactions below a set threshold. A national cash utility is planned by March 2027, with the first white-label ATMs deployed in late 2027.

• White-label ATM pilot starts in January 2027
• National cash utility to be established by March 2027
• 9,200 of 30,600 ATMs do not accept deposits
• Cash management costs R90-billion a year, economic cost R88.5-billion