Banks have pulled cash machines from stores Island-wide because of lack of use.The move has upset some customers and staff, who said they’ve enjoyed the convenience of the in-store ATMs for years. But the banks said low usage volumes had caused the move.HSBC Bank Bermuda said the growing use of online banking and wider acceptance of debit cards means people are going to the ATM less often.Over the past few months HSBC Bank Bermuda has removed ATM machines from stores including Gorham’s, Masters and most recently the People’s Pharmacy.Butterfield Bank has also pulled ATMs from some stores.A spokesman for the bank said: “During the last year, Butterfield has removed three ATMs from service Windsor Place in Hamilton, Terceira’s Rubis North Shore and the ATM at Bermuda College as a consequence of low usage volumes and/or the availability of other Butterfield ATMs in proximity.”Masters controller Charles Hall said the store’s HSBC ATM was taken out in August, after having been there more than eight years.“It was the bank’s decision to remove it,” he said, adding many customers and staff miss it.And the HSBC ATM at Gorham’s was removed a few weeks ago.“Customers do really miss it every day someone asks for it,” said Gorham’s accounts manager Georgia Wilson. “The nearest one to us now is at the 24-hour gas station.”She said the bank told Gorham’s the ATM was not supported enough. “We just had to honour their wishes,” she said.The People’s Pharmacy had its ATM carted out last Monday. “Customers are still coming in to use it,” an associate at the pharmacy said.However, an HSBC spokesperson said yesterday: “The convenience our clients experience from online banking and the popularity of card acceptance at merchant locations has altered the usage of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in recent years.“Our commitment to our customers is to deliver a reliable, innovative, convenient ATM network. We are constantly looking at our network to improve service and be available to our customers 24 hours a day. We review a variety of elements including volumes, machine age, locations and replacement costs and will on an ongoing basis, make some changes to our ATM network as the opportunity presents itself.“We have phased out certain ATM’s that may be located close to one another or are not available to the public after hours and are directing our valued customers to the nearest 24 hour ATM locations.“HSBC prides ourselves in having the most comprehensive and up to date channel capability in Bermuda -and our ATM locations will help us to continue to maximise our capability and efficiency.”The Royal Gazette was told at least one business was asked to pay the bank for having an ATM on their premises.In response, HSBC Bermuda would only say: “Due to the nature of confidentiality, the ATM network and the vendor contract/relationship with commercial clients, HSBC is not able to discuss matters in respect of client/contractual obligations.”Butterfield Bank said it continues to operate 34 ATMs across the Island.The spokesman added: “We note that we are currently upgrading the software used by our ATM network, which has resulted in certain machines being temporarily taken offline for short periods, whilst software installation and testing was completed. The upgrades to the ATM network are expected to continue for the next several weeks.“Customers were advised in advance of the planned removal of the ATMs in question.”The bank said advertising and on-site signage noted the location of the nearest Butterfield ATM.In the case of Windsor Place, the nearest ATM was at Washington Mall, while at Bermuda College, students now must go to nearby Modern Mart to get cash out.