Forty years after being launched, the ATM is still one of the symbols of innovation in Portugal. The network, which started with only nine automatic boxes in Lisbon and Porto, reaches today with thousands of equipment and tens of features.
First surveys to multiple operations
According to Pplware, the automatic box network was inaugurated on September 2, 1985, allowing users to conduct surveys, consult balance, check movements and change the PIN code.
Almost four decades later, the scenario changed radically. From a simple and limited service, it evolved into a network with about 13,000 equipment spread throughout the national territory.
Currently, each terminal offers more than 90 different operations, turning the ATM into a true point of access to financial and administrative services.
A scanning motor
The impact of this network goes far beyond banking functions. Early on, the ATM assumed itself as a digitization engine in Portugal, introducing innovative services that marked generations. Convenience and simplicity were determining factors for the success of the system, which quickly became part of the Portuguese daily routine.
The new voice with artificial intelligence
To mark the date, SIBS presented a symbolic novelty: a voice generated by artificial intelligence that supports users during operations.
By pressing key 5, the Portuguese can now have this additional support, designed to further facilitate the experience of using automatic boxes.
The introduction of voice is seen as another step in the modernization of the service, which aims to continue to accompany technological evolution.
Administration Declarations
Madalena Cascais Tomé, CEO of SIBS, cited by, stresses that “SIBS is still committed to developing the ATM, which continues to unavorately facilitate the daily life of the Portuguese, and to be a unique case of innovation globally.”
The statements reinforce the company’s commitment to keep the ATM as an essential and innovative service, even in an era when digital and furniture payments are increasingly present.
For SIBS, the longevity of the network is due to its ability to adapt and respond to the concrete needs of citizens.
Use in numbers
The latest data demonstrate the relevance of the network. In 2024, more than 693 million operations were recorded in the automatic boxes.
Interestingly, more than 55% of these operations did not correspond to surveys. Most users resorted to the ATM for other digital and non -face -to -face functionality.
These include service payments, transfers, mobile phone charges and even state payments, confirming the diversity of system uses.
A singular case at international level
The versatility of the ATM has made it a case of global study. Few countries have such an integrated network, capable of offering services that, in other markets, are only available through different platforms.
This centralized model has allowed Portugal to create an effective, reliable and reduced costs for users.
The challenge for the future is to maintain this relevance at a time when digital payments, through mobile applications, gain more and more space.
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