If you are already living in a medium to large city in China, you know what I’m talking about. Not that there aren't too many ATMS around, or because of the high population in cities. It's because most of the people can't use them.



The amount of time per person is way too phenomenal. In Hong Kong for instance things are not that complicated. Although there are much more people standing in line, things move faster.

In the Mainland however, the person that got to the ATM really takes their time, not thinking that there are other people waiting in line.

What's really frustrating about it is that if you watch the operations most of the people make, you would think that they are holding up the line on purpose.

For instance, especially the women I noticed, put their card in, slowly punch in the PIN so nobody can see... then check the balance, take out the card, put the card back in again, withdraw the amount they need, take the card out, put it back in, punch in the pin again, and check the balance they have left...



My God, I wonder is this really necessary, when you can do all of those operations without taking out the card. It's not a matter of being smart or not, I mean the options are there on the screen where anybody could see them.



But whatever queue you are in at an ATM in China, you better pray that you don't have someone that needs to make a wire transfer in front of you. If that is the case, than you should just let it go and try another ATM because it's going to take an eternity.

Banks in China are pursuing their customers to activate their e-Banking, and from what the banks say, more and more customers are using internet banking because it's convenient, reliable, and safe.
Than how come there are still so many people that use the ATM as their personal office or personal computer?

Even Chinese themselves are really annoyed by the phenomenon. A few days ago, as I was waiting in this line that didn't seem to move, one of the men that was in the queue shouted at a girl that was looking at the ATM still not being sure how much she really wanted to withdraw. " Is it going to take three more years, miss?" he shouted at the young lady, who did not show any sign of embarrassment or compassion for the people waiting in line.

Like I said, if you are living over here, you know what I'm talking about...