The central bank yesterday relaxed the guidelines for setting up electronic booths, including automated teller machines, to help banks expand their networks.

Banks now can set up all kinds of electronic booths including ATMs without prior permission from the central bank, Bangladesh Bank said in a notice.

But consent from their respective boards is still needed with regards to expenses and rents for the ATM booths.

The central bank will take actions if it finds irregularities in the rent and expenses, and may close down the booth if necessary.

Save for electronic transactions, no other banking operations can be done via the booth, said the notice.

Meanwhile, in another development, banks can now go for rental or leasing renewal without prior permission from the central bank within three years of the latest approval on the same issue.

BB will have to be notified of the renewal within one month of approval from the banks' board of directors.

However, if the rent increase is upwards of 15 percent, BB's approval has to be taken.