Brazil Ranks Number One

Most people in Brazil have used a bank machine at one time or another. However, few Brazilians realize they are at the top of the mountain, so to speak, when it comes to these automatic banking machines. According to the most recent data provided by the World Bank, Brazil has almost 160,000 automated bank machines, more than any other country in the world.

In the US, bank machines are called ATMs, which is an abbreviation for Automated Teller Machine. (I’ve heard that ATM is an abbreviation for an illness in Portuguese.) A bank teller is the clerk in the bank who performs these duties. In some countries, ATMs are called ABMs, for Automated Banking Machines.

ATMs have been in use for years and can be tremendously helpful. For example, banks in Brazil, particularly in large cities, have metal detectors at the entrance that all customers must first pass through. However, by using only the ATMs, customers can avoid the metal detectors and delays. Not only do most banks in Brazil have long lines to speak to a teller, but often there are lines simply to enter the bank because there are delays to pass through the metal detectors.

Mobile ATM

In addition, every year when the banking Union negotiates its annual employees’ contract, it’s common for the banks to close for a few days or even weeks as part of a strike by the Union. When this happens, there is no access to bank tellers, but the ATMs remain open.

In the US, ATMs are sometimes called “cash machines” because they are used only for withdrawing cash. However, in Brazil it’s possible to pay most bills — light, telephone, mortgage – at an ATM. It’s also easy to transfer money electronically from one account to another. For example, if you owe money to a friend, she can give you her bank account number, and you can transfer money directly from your account into hers.

In Brazil, many banks, such as Caixa Economica, offer various services at their bank machines, thereby allowing customers to satisfy their banking needs without assistance. Paying debts to friends or paying a mortgage or other bills isn’t possible at ATMs in the US.

For travelers who use banking machines to withdraw cash, it is worth noting that Iran has seven times more machines than Ireland. Having 3 ATMs for every 1,000 adults gives the country of Moldova the top of the list in per capita terms. It’s also the country to have experienced the most dramatic change in its ATM supply. As recently as 2004, it had one tenth the number it does now. Russia has also experienced a dramatic change with 1.5 ATMs per 1,000 people in 2011 compared to just 0.2 per 1,000 in 2004.

Here is a list of the top ten countries with the most ATMs and also the most per capita. It should be noted that both Germany and the US could not supply data to the World Bank for this list.

{This data list is from the website of The Guardian.}

Most ATMs Total		Most ATMs (per capita)	Per 100,000 people
Brazil	159,898	Moldova	301
Canada	49,820	Macao	156
France	46,368	Spain	149
India	70,695	Australia	167
Italy	39,634	Japan	129
Japan	104,130	Portugal	190
Mexico	35,154	Luxembourg	115
Russia	157,087	Canada	209
Spain	46,673	Russia	153
Thailand	37,365	Brazil	120