The number of cash points operated by Barclays Wealth in Gibraltar has increased to seven as a result of the introduction of a new facility at the Ocean Village multi-million pound mix-use development.

Barclays Wealth expects to have at least two more Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) located at strategic points on The Rock within the next year to 18 months.

The latest machine, at the Express Mini Market on Ocean Village Promenade, means Barclays Wealth has one of the largest number of ATMs locally.

Strong demand from tourists, users of the many nearby restaurants, cafes and up-market marina facilities, as well as people visiting the Casino and the growing number of homeowners and office workers in the area, has prompted the move.

Barclays Wealth already has the largest physical spread of machines in Gibraltar, from the Shell Garage at Winston Churchill Avenue in the north, to the Central Police Station at New Mole House - the only ATM available in the South District – which is well-placed to serve the new Anchorage development and numerous other housing areas nearby.

Barclays Wealth is the only bank in Gibraltar to offer its customers cash in both sterling and euros through its ATMs.

In 1988 the bank was the first in Gibraltar to introduce ATMs and sited three in its main central Main Street branch – two hole-in-the-wall machines and one in-branch. Since then, use of ATMs has risen dramatically.

Bank customers have increasingly become more familiar with the electronic functionality of their accounts and, as part of that process, they are less dependent on visiting a branch office to meet their cash needs. One of the ATMs most in demand is at Morrisons supermarket.

Derek Sene, Head of Local Business at Barclays Wealth Gibraltar said “We have plans well advanced to have at least two more ATM sites and possibly more in the next year or so, which will help ensure that we can meet the demand from our customers at key locations. We have introduced recently a Self Service Site within our Main Street branch which is proving very popular. Aside from a fast deposit machine, we now have two new touch screen kiosks that provide statements and a range of other services.

“We are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers wherever it is most needed, which is why we have targeted a growing spread of locations.”