Yellowknife (Feb 22/06) - CIBC is the latest bank in town to cancel late night ATM service.

Rina Cortese, media spokesperson for CIBC, says access to ATMs will be locked between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. as of Feb. 27.

CIBC clients wanting to use their ATM card after 11 p.m. will soon find the vestibule locked due to safety concerns. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"It is in order to continue to provide our customers with an environment that is comfortable and secure.

"Only a small percentage of transactions occur at the ATM vestibule during those hours, so it will minimize the impact on our clients," Cortese says.

Janet Porteous, manager of the Bank of Montreal in Centre Square Mall, says she was forced to implement a locked door policy between 8 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. in October 2003 "because of vandalism, loitering and sleeping" concerns.

Porteous says the ATM machines at the Bank of Montreal have been repeatedly smashed and holes have been punched in the walls.

At the Scotiabank, branch manager Joe Latremouille says the problem of loitering and drunkenness does occur at times, but it's not frequent or severe enough to warrant nighttime closures.

While he does not condone improper behaviour or usage of the bank's ATM foyer, he says there also is a safety issue for people when it's -40C outside and no other options available.

"It's mostly about people trying to keep warm," he says.At the Toronto-Dominion Bank, also on Franklin Avenue, manager Mike Adamchick says there are no current plans to close access to ATM machines. Diana Ward, manager of public affairs for the Royal Bank, says the bank continues to evaluate the decision to remain open at night based on the safety of employees and clients.