How Recycling ATMs Optimise Costs and Open the Door to Shared Networks
Investments in cash recycling ATMs are not only about client convenience. Their main benefit lies in optimising the operating costs of the entire ATM network. Modern machines, such as the OKI RG8, can reuse deposited banknotes for subsequent withdrawals, thereby significantly reducing the need for frequent interventions by security agencies. Banks thus save not only on logistics but also on service costs. A logical next step of this trend is network sharing – bringing several banks together so that, thanks to modern technology, they can offer services jointly and more efficiently.
Czech Republic: Two Competing Alliances of Shared ATMs
While in some countries banks are only learning to share infrastructure, the Czech Republic has developed a unique situation – two competing alliances of shared ATM networks operate there.
Alliance of KB, MONETA, Air Bank, and UniCredit – since 2023 it has allowed clients to withdraw, and gradually also deposit, cash at partner ATMs under the same conditions as with their own bank. The network comprises almost two thousand machines across the country.
Alliance of ČS, ČSOB, and Raiffeisenbank – in 2025 these three banks, together with Mastercard and Visa, launched the “Deposit to Card” service. The project is already in full operation and available at more than a thousand deposit ATMs throughout the Czech Republic. Clients can thus deposit cash into their account via a competitor’s ATM – quickly, conveniently, and safely.
Together these two alliances cover the vast majority of the market – giving clients unprecedented access to withdrawals and deposits alike. From the banks’ perspective, this means shared costs, more efficient use of infrastructure, and at the same time the ability to compete on service quality within two distinct platforms.
Shared networks alone would not suffice if banks relied on old, one-way machines. The key to their operation is precisely cash recycling ATMs, which allow a single device to handle both withdrawals and deposits. Banknotes deposited by one client, once verified, can immediately become the cash source for the next client.
Why Recycling ATMs Are the Key Choice for Banks
Banks today face a dual pressure: growing use of digital channels on the one hand, and increasing demand for accessible cash services on the other. Cash recycling ATMs are the only technology able to reconcile these two opposing needs.
· They reduce cash handling and transportation costs.
· They ensure payment infrastructure resilience in crisis situations.
· They enable network sharing – banks need not rely solely on their own infrastructure.
· They increase client satisfaction by keeping cash readily available.
Albacon – Supplier of OKI Technology for the Czech Republic and Slovakia
In the Czech and Slovak markets, the advanced cash recycling ATM technology of Japan’s OKI is represented by Albacon System.
Why the OKI RG8?
The OKI RG8 ranks among the most advanced recycling ATMs in the world. It offers a capacity of nearly 17,000 banknotes, a processing speed of 720 banknotes per minute, and a modular design with seven cassettes. Thanks to its incident-prevention system, it remains resilient even when damaged or folded banknotes are inserted and is protected against the insertion of foreign objects. All this ensures exceptional operational availability, which is crucial for banks, especially in shared-network environments. Remote management and monitoring facilitate maintenance and reduce operating costs.
The Manufacturer’s Strength: Tradition and Innovation
Behind the technology stands OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd., which in 1982 introduced the world’s first cash recycling ATM and has since set the direction of development in this field. Each new generation brings higher reliability, robust mechanics, and the ability to respond to the needs of modern banking.
The Ideal Technology for Shared Networks in the Czech Republic
The growing emphasis on sharing ATM networks in the Czech Republic makes the RG8 an ideal choice for the future. If a single machine is to serve clients of multiple banks, it is essential that it be maximally flexible, robust, and reliable.
That is why the OKI RG8 is a technology that not only modernises the individual infrastructure of banks but is also a logical choice for alliances like those emerging on the Czech market today.