ABSTRACT
The study investigates the geographical evaluation of the elements that determine ATM use decision in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The study also made public the spatial distribution pattern of ATM facilities in the studied region. Thus, a research survey approach was used with a questionnaire instrument to collect responses from respondents who use the ATM services provided by banks. In addition, the Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to identify the geographical pattern of ATM facility distribution using the closest neighbor analysis technique inside the context of Arcgis 10.8 spatial software. The research objectives were defined in order to fulfill the study goal. The objectives were to investigate the socio-demographic profile of the sampled respondents who use banking facilities, as well as the geographical distribution pattern of banks in the study area and the factors that impact the usage of ATMs by customers in the study region. In testing the hypothesis, the Kendall coefficient of concordance was utilized to assess the amount of agreement among respondents in terms of their most desired important variables influencing their choice of ATM facility use. The Kendall output result depicted the order of influence as follows: proximity of ATM facility to customers' residence, access road to the ATM facility, proximity to place of work, availability of cash, security, proximity to socioeconomic centers were deemed important, and the level of agreement was calculated to be statistically significant (P0.05). As a result, on the spatial distribution pattern of the ATM facility. The nearest neighbour analysis reveals that the ATM facility distribution pattern is clustered, with a computed closest neighbour ratio of 0.38 (approx.) and it was also found to be significant (P=0.0000001, accepted confidence level of 0.05). The survey also indicated that those who use ATMs come from a diverse variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall, the age of the respondent's user was found to be within the active population age range, while the occupational qualities were found to be more working class. The survey also indicated that the majority of respondents were literate, which enabled them to interact with the ATM facility more successfully as well as use other electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptop computer systems for banking transactions. In conclusion, it was discovered that numerous pull variables, such as closeness to market, institutions, stores, and parks, tend to impact bank placement, since most banks were seen to be placed around these centers of socioeconomic activity.
