Hua Xia Bank introduces five gold and silver coin ATMs in Beijing

People in Beijing can now buy gold or silver coins via ATMs after the Beijing-based Hua Xia Bank introduced five of the machines earlier this month, according to Hong Kong-based Wenweipo.

The bank installed the five machines at its branches across the city in Xidan, Fangzhuang, Zhongguancun, Dongdan, and on Qingnian Road.

The ATMs look like ordinary teller machines, but have an additional compartment to dispense the purchased items. The machines currently offer panda souvenir gold or silver coins and Year of Snake silver coin and plate sets.

A single 1-oz panda silver coin priced at 268 yuan (US$40) is the cheapest item available for purchase, while the panda gold coin set is the most expensive at 23,800 yuan (US$3,800).

Buyers can purchase the coins by using their bank cards. After they place their orders using the machine’s touch screen, their payments are verified through bank card organization China UnionPay, and they can pick up their purchased items through the opening on the lower part of the machine.

If they want to purchase more than 20,000 yuan (US$3,200) worth of items, they will first need to place their ID cards on the machine’s sensor to verify their identity before the order can be placed, Wenweipo said.

Source: WANTCHINATIMES.COM