7. Cash machine - ATM

ATM, Automatic Teller Machine, Cash machine, Cashpoint are all terms for the same piece of equipment.

It was designed to carry out many of the simpler tasks of a real bank cashier (called 'tellers' in the USA)

A cash machine offers a number of services that include

  • Withdraw cash from your account
  • Check the balance
  • Change your PIN
  • Print out a mini-statement
  • Request a new cheque book

They became very popular because they allow you to get cash without visiting the bank. Even within bank premises you often see cash point machine. People use them because it avoids the main queue and the need to fill out a cash slip. They are fast, convenient and simple to use.

To use one, the customer inserts their card into the machine and enter their PIN on the touch screen or number pad. The system will authorise the session in the same way that a chip and pin reader carries out its checks.

It will also check to make sure that the card has not been reported lost or stolen. If is has, then the card is retained.

Some ATMs may contain a digital camera that takes an image of each customer. If there is a dispute about a withdrawal, then the image can be used to confirm the identity of the person in that transaction.

Typical equipment fitted within an ATM

  • Chip and PIN reader
  • Magnetic card reader
  • Touch screen menu
  • Number keypad (if no touch screen)
  • Thermal printer

 

challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: ATM cash point machines