CBN Plans New Rules On ATM, Debit Cards.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced plans to roll out a fresh policy to control how banks issue debit cards and run their ATM services, as part of efforts to solve ongoing cash withdrawal problems across the country.

The plan was made known on Friday, January 23, 2026, during the Committee of Heads of Bank Operations Conference. 

The disclosure came through Fatai Karim, Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso.

The new rules will require banks to match the number of debit cards they give out with the number of ATMs they have installed. 

The bank believes this will reduce long queues, cut down frequent machine breakdowns and allow cash to be shared more evenly across different areas.

The apex bank explained that many ATMs often stop working or run out of cash, even as more Nigerians depend on electronic payments.

 These problems, it said, are making people lose faith in the banking system and in digital transactions.

It added that when customers cannot withdraw cash because machines are down or cash is not available, the entire payment system suffers and public trust drops further.

Karim said the CBN is already holding talks with banks and other players in the sector to agree on the final details of the policy. 

He revealed that the regulation may begin within the next few months and could be in place before the end of the second quarter of 2026.

The central bank expects the new framework to make ATM services more stable, improve access to cash and rebuild confidence in Nigeria’s electronic payment system.