In 2011, with an aim to upgrade its self-service channel, ICBC Beijing Branch deployed 1,200+ self-service devices in Beijing as revealed by the reporter from the Branch. The objective of such deployment is to increase customer experience and shorten the time for customers to queue up at the counter. Last year, ICBC Beijing Branch installed the highest number of self-services devices, adding the total to over 4,600 as of today and witnessing the biggest ever increase in the Branch's ATM deployment.

Nowadays, customers prefer to handle banking transactions themselves through self-service devices given their changing demand for financial services and technological progress. In order to meet customer demand for convenience services through self-service banking, ICBC Beijing Branch has installed self-service devices in all districts/counties, especially in Beijing's transportation hubs, colleges/universities, hospitals/medical institutions, large residential communities, commercial centers, and all MTR stations, providing financial services 24 hours a day to all customers. By taking advantage of self-service device deployment in merchandize marts, new type of commercial districts, suburbs and urban-rural fringe areas, ICBC makes aggressive move to extend its self-service banking services to the residential communities.

Customers can now enjoy more convenient financial services when banking through self-service devices for small cash deposit/withdrawal, transfer/remittance or bill payment, said an executive with the Branch. Besides, self-service devices relieve the burden of counter services, save service resources, shorten the waiting time of customers and improve service efficiency.

In the outlets, ICBC Beijing Branch assigns dedicated staff to facilitate convenient and secure access, and guide through customers all the steps when making banking transactions at self-service devices. The Branch launches promotion activities continually to attract the customers to experience the convenience of self-service banking, with an aim to encourage customers to bank at self-service devices, instead of queuing up at the bank counter. Data show that, over 60% remittances and bill payments by the customers are made through self-service devices, a jump of 11 and 38 percentage points respectively over previous year's.

Earlier, ICBC Beijing Branch rolled out the service for customers to transfer money at self-service devices using their passbooks. In other words, ICBC passbook customers can now make transfers at ICBC self-service devices. Besides drawing or depositing cash at the ICBC self-service devices, customers can also transfer or remit money, pay bills, make appointment to see doctor in key hospitals, use other services like wealth management, fund or third-party depositary. In self-service banking, now ICBC Beijing Branch offers more services and products for all customers.