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The VILLAGERS of Asajaya, a coastal rural district near Kuching, have approved RHB Bank’s mobile ATM service.
The mobile ATM, which began operations on July 12, is part of the state government’s mobile banking initiative to provide banking services to rural communities.
Independent villager Wahi Loeng, 58, from Kampung Serpan Laut praised the service as there were no banks nearby.
He said there was only one ATM at a gas station while the nearest bank was in the neighboring Samarahan district.
âI am grateful to RHB for providing this service to rural people, especially during the movement control order.
âIf we have to go to the Samarahan bank, we have to apply for a police permit (for inter-district travel),â he said.
Mohamad Din, 56, said the mobile ATM made it easy for villagers to access banking services.
âOtherwise, it takes time for us to go to Sama-rahan and we have to get a police permit.
âThe mobile banking service is good for people here, especially the elderly,â Din added.
Kampung Semera villager Nur Khairum Ameara Jakaria, 23, who usually withdraws money from the gas station’s ATM, said, âIt’s much easier with mobile banking.
RHB’s mobile ATM serves key areas of Asajaya and Sadong Jaya sub-district on a fixed rotation from Monday to Friday.
It provides basic financial facilities such as cash withdrawals, transfers and advances, as well as loan and finance repayments, bill payments and mobile top-up services.
“It is critical for us to extend financial services to underserved communities during a time like this when travel is constrained,” Jeffrey Ng, managing director of RHB Group Community Bank, said in a statement.
He said a strict standard operating procedure was applied at the mobile ATM, including physical distancing while waiting in line, wearing face masks and regularly disinfecting common areas.
Besides RHB, other banks involved in the mobile banking initiative are AgroBank, Bank Rakyat and Bank Simpanan Nasional.
AgroBank also launched its mobile banking service on July 12, serving the rural communities of Padawan and Tebedu in southern Sarawak, while Bank Rakyat serves Tatau district near Bintulu.
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