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CBN debit card rules to link card issuance with banks’ ATM capacity
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New policy targets ATM congestion, cash shortages and downtime nationwide
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Policy expected before Q2 2026 ends, says CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled plans to introduce new regulations to sanitise debit card issuance and improve Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operations across the banking sector, as part of efforts to ease persistent cash access challenges.
The plan was disclosed by the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, through his Special Adviser, Fatai Karim, at the 2026 Committee of Heads of Bank Operations Conference held on Friday.
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According to the apex bank, the proposed policy will require banks to align the number of debit cards they issue with the size and capacity of their deployed ATM infrastructure, in order to reduce congestion, frequent downtime and uneven cash availability.
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The CBN noted that recurring ATM failures and cash shortages continue to weaken public confidence in electronic payment systems, despite the rapid growth of digital transactions across the banking industry.
It warned that when cash access fails due to prolonged ATM outages or poor cash distribution, the credibility of the entire payment system is undermined.
Karim said the CBN is already engaging stakeholders within the banking industry and expects the new regulatory framework to take effect within the coming months, possibly before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
The apex bank expressed confidence that the policy would enhance ATM reliability, improve cash distribution and restore trust in Nigeria’s electronic payment ecosystem, to the benefit of both banks and customers nationwide.
