RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), in its latest report, has revealed that over 11.7 million ATM cards were issued at the end of the third quarter, compared to over 11.5 million the previous quarter. ATM cash withdrawals at the end of the third quarter increased to SR121 million from SR117.8 million by the end of the second quarter, stated the report. The number of branches of banks operating in the Kingdom increased to 1,569 at the end of the third quarter, compared to 1,561 branches by the end of the second quarter. The report showed the number of ATMs within the same two periods, the third and second quarters of this year, increased to 10,659 from 10,462. Points of sale machines increased to 74,792 by the end of the third quarter compared to about 73,979 by the end of the second. There were 38.8 million transactions made by the end of the third quarter on these machines, compared to 37.7 million in the second quarter.
