Five ATMs belonging to Federal Bank in Kerala have been re-calibrated to dispense Rs 2,000 notes, making it the first in the country to do so, the bank claimed. “The Federal Bank ATM at Thevara in Kochi successfully dispensed Rs 2,000 denomination notes to customers,” the Bank told PTI on Tuesday.

Shalini Warrier, Chief Operating Officer of the bank, said 25% of its ATMs will be re-calibrated within the next 72 hours. The new Rs 2,000 note was introduced after the Centre decided to scrap the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in an attempt to tackle black money and corruption in the country.

On Monday, Secretary of Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das had said that ATMs would begin dispensing the new denomination notes in a day or two. “Supply of cash to 1.3 lakh branch post offices will be enhanced,” he had said, adding that there would soon be a higher number of recalibrated ATMs that would dispense the high-denomination currency. He said a task force had been set up to ensure that ATMs were ready to dispense these notes soon.

A large number of micro-ATMs would also be deployed across India, he had said. “The focus of the government is to activate all channels whereby cash is dispensed to the public,” the economic secretary had said, reiterating the call to not panic as “enough cash will be available” in the coming days.

Late on Sunday, the Centre had pushed the last date for government hospitals, petrol stations and toll booths to accept the scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 tenders till November 24. It had also raised the ATM withdrawal limit from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, but only for recalibrated ATMs. In addition to also increasing the weekly cash withdrawal limit from Rs 20,000 to Rs 24,000, the Finance Ministry had advised all banks to arrange for mobile banking vans at major hospitals to be available for patients during emergencies.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise announcement, banks and ATMs have been flooded with thousands of citizens seeking to exchange their now illegal tender, and to withdraw new currency. The new Rs 2,000 notes were so far made available only at banks. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has faced tremendous flak from Opposition parties for the move to demonetise the high-value currency notes.