Banks are not catering enough for the disadvantaged, legislators said yesterday, while calling on the industry and the government to do more for them. The city had 1,223 bank branches and 2,420 ATMS, Peter Sullivan, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, told the Legislative Council's panel on financial affairs. Mr Sullivan said 43 per cent of all transactions were carried out by internet last year, up from 28 per cent three years ago. Only 14 per cent of transactions were carried out at bank branches, down from 23 per cent in 2003. Last week the Consumer Council said the number of branches of 23 retail banks had dropped from 1,463 in 2001 to 1,209 last year. But Mr Sullivan said the number of bank branches currently in existence across the city was little changed from 2003. 'While some banks have consolidated their branch networks for commercial reasons, other banks in Hong Kong continue to open new branches in locations where customers' demand is high,' he said. The number of bank branches rose last year in 12 of the 18 districts, he said. Social welfare legislator Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung said there was strong demand for counter service among elderly and disabled bank customers. He urged the government to form a committee to look into the problem, with representatives from the banks' association, Consumer Council, Monetary Authority, Council of Social Service and groups for the elderly and deaf. A spokeswoman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said the bureau would discuss with Hongkong Post the feasibility of post offices offering deposit and withdrawal services. Counter culture The number of bank branches per 100,000 people 18 And the number of ATMs per 100,000 35