The onset of the 21st century marked a revolution in the country's financial industry. Banks opened never to close again. This became possible with the introduc­tion of the automated teller machine, commonly referred to as the ATM. Since then, customers do not have to queue up and spend valuable time waiting to be served by a human teller. They can access the same services - albeit in a much quicker way - on a wall-built machine along most streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What one might find truly surprising, however, is the fact that a huge number of people in the country do not make optimum use of this cutting-edge technology. To most of us, an ATM is a machine that can give you cash or show you the account balance - and it ends there.
Contrary to this erroneous perception, the ATM can perform many other incredible transactions. These include paying routine bills (utilities), printing bank state­ments and loading monetary value into pre-paid cell phone cards.

With ATMs around, distance and time-of-day are no longer hurdles to conducting banking business or accessing one's accounts. Banking services are now both widely available and more conven­ient for all Malawians, especially those who can only bank after working hours or over the week­end.
Some five years ago, it was strange for Malawians to interact this way with machines. Even more so when it came to issues where money was involved. People were used to asking for their hard-earned cash from a human being behind a bank counter. They wanted to see, with their very own eyes, each bill being counted out by the teller. Till this day, scepticism remains a big set back as far as automated banking is concerned. This lack of trust has substantially lowered the use of the ATMs. There are those of us who, naturally or otherwise, harbour little trust in machines, ATMs inclusive. A bit of more public relations, perhaps, could do the job to sensitise customers how safe and secure ATMs can be. Nevertheless, it is positive to note that a large number of today's prudent ATM users have graduated from this group of scepticisms. More are hopefully on the way.
Ever since these wonder machines succeeded in earning the trust of many' once highly sceptical customers, an amazing transformation has been taking place. It is no longer fashionable for anyone to give an excuse that he has been let down by the long queue in the banking hall and therefore could not afford to waste the whole day at the bank. For spendthrifts, ATMs have become a ubiquitous temptation. One, they give in to all the time. They buy on impulse instead of planning every purchase ahead of time now that they have access to their cash whenever and wherever they want. Taking precaution is there­fore not a vice. We need to be wary on the number of times we visit these machines in a day. Let alone the amount we withdraw in a single transaction in relation to the intended use.
I also remember of a friend who once revealed he could not apply for an ATM card simply because "he believed" he could not operate the machine. For the next couple of weeks, one thing persistently troubled my soul: "If a town dweller can shy away from ATMs like this, what about the farmer in the village?" He may not be an isolated case. There could be many out there sailing in the same boat. Perhaps more education is required to assure these people just how user-friendly the ATM is.
Embarrassment in failing to operate the ATM in the face of other people is an experience most of us wouldn't dare to face. But operating the ATM is as simple as using a CD player. You do not need special skills to withdraw or check your balance at the machine. Once you slot in your personal card and punch in the PIN (short for personal identification number), you are ready to perform your transaction. What follows is a list of optional instructions guiding you to complete your transaction. If you can use a cell phone you can operate an ATM - as simple as that.
For the person in the village, there are always commissionaires and other support staff at the bank who are more than ready to give help whenever need be. They would take you to the machine and go through the step-by-step process of automated banking with you. They wouldn't mind how many times they do it for you.

It is equally stimulating to learn that very soon ATMs in the country will be connected to an Interbank network. This will enable people to withdraw and deposit money from machines not belonging to the bank where they have their account. Interconnectivity among commercial banks will be a convenience, especially for people travelling as it becomes possible to make withdrawals in places where one's bank has no branches. Holders of Malswitch cards are already enjoying this facility though it's restricted to banks with MalswichATMs.
In most cases, ATM networks, as they are sometimes called, offer basic banking services such as withdrawals and balance inquiries. However, special services such as the purchase of phone airtime are usually only accessible by ATM card holders who are customers of the particular bank. It may also be worthwhile for the customer to know that most banks will charge an extra fee to customers of other banks.
Furthermore, it is more than likely that in the not-so-distant future local banks will complement the Interbank network with multinational Interbank networks. These are ideal for customers who are engaged in international business as they are accorded an opportunity to access their accounts while abroad. This network can even permit the withdrawal of local currency in a foreign country for use on their way back to Malawi.
While it is still unclear to the present day about who fathered this marvellous invention - as some say it was Luther Goerge Simijian who installed it at the City Bank of New York in 1939, and others put the credit on Thomas De La Rue's Company - the indisputable point is: we can no longer cope without it. So, let us make full use of it.
To me then, whosoever created this intelligent machine should be put on the K10 bill as a token of appreciation.