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Chinese ICBC scraps own ATMs in Türkiye, opens access to shared grid

The logo of ICBC Bank is displayed outside a branch in Wuhan, China, Feb. 11, 2024. (Adobe Stock Photo)
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The logo of ICBC Bank is displayed outside a branch in Wuhan, China, Feb. 11, 2024. (Adobe Stock Photo)
June 19, 2026 03:12 PM GMT+03:00

Chinese lender ICBC is scrapping its ATM network in Türkiye, opting instead to route customers through the country's wider banking infrastructure.

The move means account holders will no longer rely on ICBC-branded cash machines. Instead, they will be able to withdraw cash and carry out other ATM transactions through machines operated by other Turkish banks without paying additional fees, according to a notice sent to clients.

Mobile login unlocks nationwide ATM access

Access to the fee-free service will depend on customers logging into the bank's mobile application. Each login activates a 30-day period during which customers can use ATMs operated by any bank in Türkiye without paying transaction fees.

The arrangement effectively replaces ICBC Türkiye's own ATM network with access to the country's broader banking infrastructure, giving customers a wider range of locations for cash withdrawals and other routine transactions.

Instead of relying on the bank's limited branch and ATM footprint, account holders will be able to carry out banking services through thousands of machines operated by other lenders nationwide while continuing to receive fee-free access.

The ICBC logo is seen on the facade of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China building in Hong Kong, May 9, 2023. (Adobe Stock Photo)
The ICBC logo is seen on the facade of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China building in Hong Kong, May 9, 2023. (Adobe Stock Photo)

Key link in China-Türkiye finance

ICBC, the world's largest bank by assets with roughly $7.6 trillion on its balance sheet, entered the Turkish banking market in 2014 through its $316 million acquisition of Tekstilbank.

Although it operates a relatively small network of 19 branches and holds around $2 billion in assets in Türkiye, the lender plays an outsized role in financial links between Türkiye and China.

In 2025, ICBC Türkiye was appointed Türkiye's official RMB clearing bank by the People's Bank of China, strengthening its position as a key conduit for yuan-denominated payments, trade settlement and cross-border financing between the two countries.

Through the ICBC Group's global network, the bank also helped channel about $1.7 billion in financing to projects in Türkiye, according to the bank's latest annual report.

The same year, ICBC Türkiye rolled out the country's first UnionPay multi-currency debit card and dual-currency credit card, joined China's Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), expanded its Global Pay platform and integrated with Türkiye's FAST instant payment network, further deepening its role in cross-border financial services.

June 19, 2026 03:12 PM GMT+03:00
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