Kazkommertsbank, BTA Bank start merging ATM systems
ALMATY. June 26 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's BTA Bank and Kazkommertsbank have started to integrate their ATM systems.
On June 25, the banks canceled additional cash withdrawal fees, KKB said in a press release.
"The availability of ATMs for BTA customers has increased by 150%. Cancellation of fees will save more than a hundred tenge per transaction for the clients of both banks," said the bank (183.51 tenge/$1 on June 26).
BTA and KKB service over 2.4 million cardholders.
"KKB ATM network consists of 1,360 devices, including 300 with a cash receiving option. BTA Bank has 848 ATMs, but unlike Kazkom's network, it is more geographically extended with the presence in small cities and towns. Both ATM networks account for one forth of all ATMs in the country," said the bank.
In May, the National Bank of Kazakhstan agreed to make Kazkommertsbank the majority shareholder in BTA Bank.
Kazkommertsbank and Kazakh businessman Rakishev were reported to have reached a final agreement to purchase a 46.5% equity stake each in BTA Bank from Samruk-Kazyna.
After closing the deal Samruk-Kazyna will retain a 4.26% stake in BTA Bank but will hand over it to Kazkommertsbank under its trust management to supervise BTA Bank, and the two banks are to be merged.
After closing the deal, KKB and BTA Bank plan a merger.
In 2013, Kazkommertsbank 2013 ranked first by assets among 38 second tier banks in Kazakhstan, BTA Bank was 3rd place, according to the Kazakh state financial supervision committee.
