Business

Thousands lose bank cards over busy Christmas season

Ulster Bank is making a number of its busiest ATMs in Belfast city centre glow in the dark for the remainder of the festive period
Ulster Bank is making a number of its busiest ATMs in Belfast city centre glow in the dark for the remainder of the festive period Ulster Bank is making a number of its busiest ATMs in Belfast city centre glow in the dark for the remainder of the festive period

OVER 300,000 people in Northern Ireland have lost or had their bank card stolen in the past three years according to new figures from Ulster Bank.

Research carried out by the bank shows that on average, over 8,000 people lose or have their bank card stolen each month, with customers most likely to lose their cards over the Christmas period. Over 130,000 bank cards have been lost or stolen in the past three years at Christmas, while over 180,000 have found themselves

without access to a bank card when Christmas shopping or going out for Christmas activities, because they had lost, misplaced, forgotten or had it stolen.

Due to the sheer numbers affected in Northern Ireland Ulster Bank is making a number of its busiest ATMs in Belfast city centre glow in the dark for the remainder of the festive period to highlight that customers can still access cash even without their debit card. The bank’s ‘Emergency Cash’ and ‘Get Cash’ services allow customers to access cash from Ulster Bank ATMs using a code provided to them either by phone or through the bank’s mobile app.

Ulster Bank’s managing director of personal banking, Sean Murphy, said: “We know that Christmas is a really busy time when people use their bank cards more than normal and they are also distracted by all of the activities that go with Christmas. So, it is not surprising that people are likely to find themselves without their bank card at this time of year, and we want to help customers who find themselves in this situation.”

The bank is wrapping a number of its busiest ATMs in Belfast city centre with a bright blue coloured vinyl with glow in the dark strips and wording to help make them visible over the festive season.