All Indian banks must have ATMs by 2014

Will allow rural customers easy withdrawals.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said all bank branches in India will have at least one ATM facility before March 2014. Affected by the order are all bank branches and those due for opening.

Orders have been issued to all nationalized banks. Some 8,000 bank branches are planned to be opened this year. Chidambaram said 6,000 branches were opened last year.