Expanded ATM network supports mountain and border villages

Communities that had lost access to in-person banking services are regaining cash availability, as Cyprus expands its rural ATM programme to 19 machines — significantly exceeding the 11 initially announced. The initiative aims to support residents in mountain, remote and border areas following the closure of local bank branches.

Since May 2025, 17 ATMs have been installed in communities across the island, with one set to become operational at Kykkos Monastery, serving nearby villages such as Kambos Tsakkistras, Milikouri and Gerakies, as well as the many visitors the monastery attracts each year. An additional machine is planned for Avgorou once site preparations are completed. Several ATMs have been placed in community authority buildings to ensure reliable connectivity and security, with installation and operational costs covered by participating banks and the payments company JCC. Pensioners are not charged for withdrawals under the scheme.

The expansion has contributed to an increase in Cyprus’s total number of ATMs, reaching 405 by the end of the first half of 2025, up from 397 a year earlier, according to the latest bulletin from the Central Bank of Cyprus. Around 72 per cent of machines now support contactless transactions. While cashback services at point-of-sale terminals are growing in popularity, ATMs remain the primary method for cash withdrawals, underscoring their continued importance for everyday financial access across the country.