Japanese banking group Resona is to allow its customers to designate specific times for ATM use and block cash withdrawals at all other times in a bid to cut cash machine fraud.
A new service will be launched mid-year that will enable account holders to block withdrawals from ATMs operated by Resona and other banks, according to a report by the Kyodo news agency.
Users will be able to specify ATM user times via mobile phones. Customers will be able to change designated times or suspend total use of cash machines.
According to the report, Resona believes the initiative will cost less than other measures to tackle cash machine fruad, such as providing chip-based cards and implementing biometric applications.
Following a series of cash card frauds in Japan, Kyodo says banks are also planning to allow customers to set their own limits on cash withdrawals at ATMs and to compensate customers if they are found not to be responsible for losses caused by fraud.