The Central Bank of Russia reported a drop in the country’s automated teller machines. From January to June 2022 the ATM fleet contracted by 3.3 percent, losing about 6.2 thousand machines and leaving the total at 181.2 thousand by July 1. This trend comes from data published by the Central Bank and compiled by socialbites.ca.
Industry analysts weighed in on the figures. Maxim Osadchiy, head of the analytical department at BKF Bank, highlighted several drivers behind the shrinking network. He pointed to a broad move away from cash as a payment medium, a rapid rise in card usage, and improved financial literacy across the population. Osadchy noted that the share of cash withdrawals conducted via payment cards has fallen sharply since 2008. In the first half of 2022 the card withdrawal share stood at 41 percent, down from 92.6 percent in 2008. He explained that many consumers now carry a card or use card payments at even the most modern merchants, often supported by point of sale terminals. Transfers to cards have also become a common alternative to cash withdrawals. (attribution: BKF Bank analytics)
Not every region followed the national pattern. The Central Bank reported ATM growth in six regions: Chechen Republic up 1.8 percent; Dagestan up 1.7 percent; North Ossetia up 0.8 percent; Crimea up 3.1 percent; Sevastopol up 1.3 percent; and Rostov region up 0.6 percent. In contrast, Karelia led the decline with a 9.9 percent drop in ATM numbers. These regional differences reflect varying levels of cash usage, banking density, and local economic activity across the country. (attribution: Central Bank statistics)
Looking back, analyst Osadchiy pointed to a peak in ATM deployment on January 1, 2014, when Russia counted about 237.4 thousand ATMs. Since then, the total has trended downward. Between January 1, 2014 and July 1, 2022, the number of ATMs fell by roughly 56.2 thousand units, a 23.7 percent reduction in the nationwide network. (attribution: Kommersant coverage)
The Central Bank also hosted a meeting of the Cash Circulation Council on September 9 to address practical challenges in cash handling. A Kommersant source indicated that the council outlined a roadmap for the development and deployment of domestic ATMs. The plan anticipates that the first samples of Russian made machines will be ready for testing later in the year. If testing proceeds smoothly, production scale could begin in early 2023. The manufacturers expected to supply these domestic ATMs are BFS and SAGA, signaling a push toward local manufacturing in the cash infrastructure sector. (attribution: Kommersant coverage)
Overall, the period showed a shift in how money moves through the economy. The evolving mix of cash and electronic payments, along with regional variations, points to a broader trend toward cash light transactions in Russia. Market observers expect ongoing adjustments as technology, consumer behavior, and policy considerations shape the future of the ATM network in the years ahead. The ongoing dialogue among banks, regulators, and equipment manufacturers indicates a future where cash use may continue to recede in everyday transactions while still playing a role in specific contexts and regions. These dynamics are essential for understanding how financial services ecosystems adapt to changing payment habits and the needs of consumers across Russia. (attribution: central bank data, BKF Bank analytics, Kommersant coverage)