ATMS operated directly by banks have opened for business after a mandated two-day shutdown, according to information reaching here.
These ATMs are serving requests for transactions from customers who have accounts with the host banks only. ATMs outsourced to third parties are likely to remain shut for a third day today.
A few ATMs that opened for business in Thiruvananthapuram this morning ran out of cash within a couple of hours. A lone machine at the Statue Junction in the city centre is working now.
This machine had started off the morning with fresh loads of Rs 4 lakh in cash in Rs 100 and lower denominations but ran itself out soon. It has since been replenished with another Rs 2 lakh.
There is a limit on withdrawals than can be transacted from ATMs fixed at Rs 2,000 per day until November 18 which will be raised to Rs 4,000 subsequently.
Information reaching from Kochi said most ATMs except those run by a few new-generation banks remain closed. Some of these are expected to open from afternoon depending on arrival of cash.
Shortage of Rs 100 and Rs 50 combined with the delay in updating software to enable ATMs handle the new Rs 2,000 note may have queered the pitch for banks today.