Kamanjab residents say ATM closure shuts them off from economy
Residents of Kamanjab say the closure of the last ATM in the settlement has left them struggling to access salaries, pensions and cash for daily transactions, while the bank says the machine is no longer financially viable.
Community members and farmers say the shutdown of the last remaining Standard Bank ATM forces residents to travel more than 100 km to Khorixas or Outjo to withdraw cash. The concerns have prompted residents to submit a petition to Standard Bank, urging the bank to reconsider the closure.
Resident Justus Kheibeb (75) told Namibian Sun the situation has been particularly difficult for pensioners, who now depend on informal and often risky arrangements to access their cash.
“Even when our children who are working in urban towns send us money electronically, we have to ask taxi drivers driving between Outjo, Khorixas and Kamanjab to withdraw it for us," he said, adding that this is "not always reliable as one cannot trust everyone, especially strangers, with money". “We are not asking for big banks to be built here, we are only asking for one ATM, just one,” Kheibeb pleaded.
Locked out
Commercial farmer Danie Robbertse said the loss of ATM services has effectively cut residents off from basic economic activity. “An ATM is more than a machine – it is a lifeline for pensioners, farmers, workers and small businesses." He said the machine had served as a critical access point for pensioners, workers, farmers and small businesses. “If people cannot access their money, they are effectively locked out of the economy.”
Robbertse added that the lack of cash services is also affecting tourism-related sales, with visitors unable to easily buy local products and crafts. He said some residents reportedly spend days trying to access salaries through limited postal services. Youth activist Veronica Tjiveze said some residents are taking innovative steps to access cash. “We have to ask people travelling from other towns to withdraw money for us and bring it when they return,” she said.
Economically unviable
In a response, Standard Bank confirmed that the ATM ceased operations on 31 March as part of a broader strategy aimed at creating a “more sustainable and digitally enabled banking model”.
The bank stated that more than half of all monthly transactions conducted at the Kamanjab ATM originated from non-Standard Bank clients, while the institution carried the full operational and maintenance costs. “This imbalance unfortunately renders the ATM commercially unsustainable,” the bank said.
Responding to questions from Namibian Sun, the finance ministry said the government remains committed to improving financial inclusion, particularly in rural communities.
“It is the considered position of the Government that every Namibian, regardless of geography, must be able to participate meaningfully in the formal financial system,” Wilson Shikoto, Public Relations Officer said. Furthermore, Shikoto referenced Namibia’s Financial Sector Transformation Strategy target of achieving 95% national financial inclusion and 75% rural financial inclusion by 2035.
However, the finance ministry noted that commercial banks are privately owned institutions regulated by the Bank of Namibia and that the government cannot compel banks to maintain branches or ATM services in specific areas. “The decision on where to operate a physical branch is a commercial one, taken by each bank,” the ministry said.
The government nevertheless retains policy and regulatory mechanisms aimed at ensuring that communities are not left behind as the financial sector evolves, the ministry added. Standard Bank said it is exploring alternative solutions, including mobile ‘bank on wheels’ services during peak periods, partnerships with local retailers and increased use of digital banking platforms.
The Kamanjab Town Council declined to respond to questions sent by Namibian Sun.
