News On Japan

Mizuho halts service at card-eating ATMs

Feb 28 (Japan Times) - Japan’s Mizuho Bank stopped service at some of its automated teller machines (ATMs) on Sunday after the machines devoured customers’ cash cards and bank books.

The core banking unit of Mizuho Financial Group announced the halt on its website in red letters, switching from the standard black used for previous updates of the problem.

“Due to a system failure, ATM service has been halted at some of our branches,” said Japan’s third-largest lender by assets, with a history of system woes stretching more than a decade.

“For customers whose cash cards, bank books, etc. have been taken, we will notify you and return the items at a later date.”

An ATM outage is particularly painful in cash-loving Japan, where electronic money has only recently made inroads.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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