British bank HSBC is to invest £50 million on growing its national ATM network and extending the range of services available through the units.
The bank says it will add 500 brand new cash machines to its network during 2006 - a 17% increase from 2933 to 3433 units. The bank is also rolling out a mobile phone top-up service across all its ATMs.
The bank introduced a charity donation service at its ATMs last November to enable customers to donate to the BBC Children in Need appeal. The firm says over 5500 individual donations, totalling £100,000, have been made in the last five months.
In an effort to further extend the service, HSBC is now adding a Gift Aid facility for ATM donors, which enables charities to claw back income tax payments on the sums donated.
David Nibloe, head of self-service, HSBC, says: "Improving our ATM services is a key priority for 2006 and our decision to roll out immediate Gift Aid on charity donations, offer cash machine mobile phone top-ups, and install 500 brand new machines is further recognition of the fact that self-service has become a key feature of day-to-day banking."