The Pacific Island of Tuvalu Has Just Got Its First ATMs

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The Pacific Island of Tuvalu, one of the world’s smallest countries, has got its first ATMs.

Until now, all banking in Tuvalu had been done in cash, and the nation’s roughly 11,000 residents had to visit banks in person to withdraw money, often waiting in long lines, particularly on pay days.

Five ATMs were installed on the main island of Funafuti, on Tuesday, April, 15.

The bank will now roll out prepaid cards to be used at the ATMs and aims to eventually provide Visa debit and credit cards that people can use for travel and online purchases, according to the Guardian.

Tuvalu’s prime minister Feleti Teo said that 30 payment terminals will next be installed around the island.

Teo called the development “a momentous and historic” step as the country embraces modern banking.

“We’ve been in an analogue space all along, these were dreams for us,” the general manager of the National Bank of Tuvualu told the Guardian.

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