By Yi Whan-woo

Shinhan Bank is expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at its automated teller machines to protect customers and their assets from voice phishing and other financial crimes, the lender said on Sunday.

It said all of its branches are setting up ATMs equipped with an AI program that can detect any abnormal behaviors from users, such as covering their faces with hats or sunglasses, or talking on the phone for too long while using the machine.

Shinhan Bank's headquarters in central Seoul / Courtesy of Shinhan Bank

A cautionary message will appear automatically on the ATM's screen if the program judges that a user is a bank customer and is being threatened by scammers.

ATM users will be asked to undergo a more thorough identification process if the AI suspects them as potential criminals who are trying to withdraw cash from someone else's account.

The targeted users will be banned from using the ATM or will be allowed to access limited services in extreme cases.

The AI-based ATM service was first introduced in March this year at branches mainly visited by elderly customers.

The number of financial crimes in those branches dropped by 38 percent.

"Shinhan Bank will continue to make efforts to protect customers and their assets by using the AI-based fraud detection system, which is designed to prevent possible financial crimes," the lender said.