Hyderabad: SBI ATM spews soiled notes

Hyderabad: While the popular complaint is that ATMs in the city are running dry, this 23-year-old resident had a different experience. 

Mr Srikar Aditya, who withdrew Rs 10,000 from an SBI ATM at Vanasthalipuram, received soiled and torn Rs 2,000 notes. A few other customers also received similarly damaged notes. They lodged a complaint with police. The victims also messaged the SBI on Twitter, to which the bank replied: “Currency notes entered into ATMs are checked for quality and authenticity. Hence the chances of a mutilated note being disbursed from our ATM are negligible. Please note, you may exchange a mutilated note at any of our branches.”

Mr Aditya, an MBA graduate, had initially tried to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the SBI ATM at Complex area in Vanasthalipuram, using his YES Bank debit card. He then withdrew Rs 10,000 and received the soiled notes.

On being advised by a friend, he displayed each note before the CCTV camera at the ATM booth. “One of the persons who faced a similar problem said it was his salary and all the notes he withdrew were damaged and unuseable,” said Mr Aditya.

Vanasthalipuram police made a GD entry of the complaint and told the victims that they would forward it to the bank authorities.