BANGKOK: The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has debunked rumors circulating on social networks that all banks will shut down their ATM services on May 4. The BoT has addressed circulating news that due to its order for all commercial banks to upgrade their automatic teller machines to the EMV Chip Card/ISO by May 7, ATM services across the country will go offline on May 4, affirming that the public has misunderstood the information.
The bank asserts that many banks have already upgraded their systems and that the adjustment is being done in a gradual and systematic manner as to not affect users. It said it will provide updates on the process as they occur. It also explained that its new ATM card requirements will only apply to applications from November 16 of this year onward and that magnetic strip cards that are currently in use will continue to be applicable.