With a view to boost value-added services amongst the customers, banks are looking forward to set up with the service mobile ATMs. Earlier, mobile ATMs were used by the banks more as a showcase rather than a service. "Banks now see mobile ATMs as a need, more than something to showcase," said Rupinder Anand, Director, Sales and Marketing, Diebold.

Diebold is a firm that manufactures and manages ATMs for banks. So far the firm has installed 11 mobile ATMs in India for banks that include State Bank of Patiala, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank and Bank of India.

Mr Anand informed that some banks like State Bank of Patiala and Oriental Bank of Commerce are planning to install more of such ATMs in northern part of the country and Rajasthan.

Though the mobile ATM cost more than normal ATM, yet banks are insisting on its deployment because they think them to be an investment. Banks are typically using mobile ATMs as a mini branch, said Anand.

The cost of a mobile ATM is nearly Rs 30 lakh and it includes the money spent on the vehicle, construction of the vehicle's design, special branding through television screens and network connectivity using UPS. On the other hand, a normal ATM costs only Rs 5 lakh.

Basically mobile ATMs are operational in a vehicle that is deployed in different locations to provide the ATM facility. It is equipped with a desk and chair along with the staff to assist the customers on places where it halts.

Most banks are targeting to install these mobile ATMs in places like Bandra fair and the cattle fair in Puskhar where people carry cash to make their purchases.

Diebold that is currently manufacturing ATM for banks is working on a project to make bill payments through ATMs of any bank. However customers need to register themselves with a particular bank website to make the payment, Anand said.