Bank360: The resolution has been published, the government wants an ATM in every settlement

Manufacturers and operators of banknote dispensing machines (ATMs) can prepare, as a government resolution was published in the Hungarian Official Gazette on Wednesday evening that could soon teach them a lesson. The government’s Resolution 1073/2025. (III. 19.) is about ensuring the nationwide coverage of automatic banknote dispensing machines. Although the law is only three sentences in total, its implementation will be a bigger task.

It will not be easy or cheap to meet the new requirement

According to the resolution, the government agrees that ensuring access to cash is of paramount importance in rural areas. Therefore, the operation of at least one automatic banknote dispensing machine (ATM) must be ensured in every settlement in Hungary in order to ensure the unhindered access of the population to financial services. To this end, the Minister of National Economy must prepare a proposal on its implementation and cost requirements by April 30.

The government does not set a size limit, so according to its resolution, ATMs will have to operate even in settlements with a few hundred inhabitants. According to experts from Bank360.hu, the turnover of these machines will obviously be so small that it will be impossible to install and operate them economically. Based on this, it may become clear from Minister Márton Nagy’s proposal who will bear the burden of ATMs that can only be operated at a loss, and whether the state will contribute to their installation and operation, or whether this will be the burden of banks and financial service providers.