Major banks offer one ATM per 1,500 Romanians

As only 27 percent of merchants accept bank cards, ATMs continue to be the most important instrument used by Romanians. According to data collected by the Cotidianul daily from the most important issuers, the ratio between the number of cards and that of ATMs is in the best case scenario at 1/900. Worst case puts the ratio at 1/4,477, while the average is at some 1/1,500. With the exception of those of Casa de Consemnatiuni si Economii (CEC), ATMs are mostly grouped in Bucharest. “There has been a significant rise in the number of card holders on the local market, and these should have as many places as possible at their disposal to use these payment instruments,” said Denisa Mateescu, General Manager for Romania and the Balkan Region of MasterCard Europe. (Cotidianul)