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Two Ukrainian banks, Rodovid Bank and Oschadnyi State Bank of Ukraine, have merged their ATM networks, both financial institutions have announced. The combined network includes 3,900 machines. Rodovid expects the move to result in not only wider free ATM access for its customers but also cost savings for ATM network development, Victoria Vasileva, Rodovid vice president, tells CardLine Global. Rodovid's ATM network already included machines from other Ukrainian banks, including Ukrsotsbank, UkrSibbank and Finance and Credit Bank. Though the deal leaves the two banks with less than 10% of the Ukrainian ATM market, the merger does represent a trend in the country, says Alexander Valchyshen, research director at Kiev-based investment management firm Investment Capital of Ukraine, tells CardLine Global. "Individual banks have a common interest there," he says. "The main goal of the unification is to provide better customer service and to reach more clients." Ukrainian banks have deployed more than 20,000 ATMs and cash dispensers, according to CardLine Global sister publication ATM&Debit News.
