The Future of ATMs in the era of Digital Banking

Ashish M. Shaji

17 Jul, 2020

The introduction of ATMs has caused a considerable change in the way we deal with our day to day financial works.  It has played a crucial role in simplifying the process of cash dispensation. Technology has also contributed to the success of ATMs. However, with digital banking and growing concerns of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, the future of ATMs is in question.

Understanding the Impact of ATMs

Cash has been one aspect of the financial sector that has become firmly rooted in our economy. The significance of cash has also increased the utility of ATMs and has become a vital physical touchpoint for financial technology institutions to stay connected with their customers and members.

ATMs have eased the way out for the users by giving them easy access to their money deposited with banks. They now don’t require visiting bank branches and queuing up in the banks to withdraw cash or to make an enquiry about their accounts. In this manner, they have caused the users to conveniently transact regardless of the time or place.

It may sound a bit odd that ATMs were earlier considered as a popular form of digital banking. Amid the talks surrounding a cashless economy, all ATMs have still remained relevant to a majority of bankers, and it has been one of the go-to medium for them to withdraw cash.

What are the challenges surrounding the future of ATMs amid the rise of digital banking?

With the rise of digital banking, users are now able to access their bank accounts for routine financial services and have slightly shifted to credit and debit cards instead of ATMs.

Let us look at some of more such challenges-

• Due to the increase in active digital customers, many ATMs across the world have been shut down as a number of bank branches shut down its operations. Further, they redirected their resources towards digital payments.
• Customers have seen a number of high tech changes at the ATMs, but the concern has been that with these changes, consumers have seen a continued increase in the average ATM transaction fee. It has raised the demand for a need of cashless economy. These surcharges on ATM transactions have not been welcomed well by the consumers, and there has been a continuous push for surcharge-free ATM access. If we continue to see this rise in surcharges, then it can affect the future of ATMs.
• Another challenge that’s faced by the ATMs is the reluctancy of the consumers to use ATM machines due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The social distancing norms amid the pandemic have caused the people to transact using digital channels than visiting the ATMs. The fear among the people, amid the news that the buttons at ATMs carry germs and cash-carrying coronavirus, has impacted the use of ATMs. The cash withdrawal worldwide from ATMs has come down terrifically; therefore, the government must make sure that proper measures are taken to tackle this challenge.
• Use of high-end technology to provide great user experience to customers has worked well for digital banking. However, ATMs have a lesser scope in that. This has allowed more and more consumers to use digital banking to conduct transactions rather than going to ATMs.
• Soaring expenses to manage ATMs is another challenge as with regulatory upgrades and software upgrades, the cost to manage ATMs has increased tremendously, and this can affect the future of ATMs.
• Security issues like theft and vandalism of ATMs are becoming common, and card skimming, which involves capturing of card information, has also affected the use of ATMs by the consumers. Such incidents have discouraged the consumers from using ATMs and have once again shifted the attention to the convenience and comfort of digital banking.
• Decreasing profits from ATM is one of the major challenges facing the industry. Factors like increasing costs, stringent government regulations, and reduced ATM transactions have plummeted the profits caused by ATMs.

Why is ATM still relevant in retail banking despite the availability of digital channels?

The competition has grown tremendously in the last few years, with new payments banks coming up in the scene. So the banks are in a constant pursuit to provide customers with unique banking experience in order to stay relevant. The banks are also aware that it is the way to ensure that a customer stays banked to you. One such way is through ATMs.

The element of convenience and the simplified process has been one of the fundamental reasons why ATMs have still remained relevant. If one observes the number of times, a customer visits the bank branches and the number of times they visit ATMs, which would be higher? The usage of ATMs is much higher. It is because ATMs are one of the most trusted channels as it the extension of the branch.

Banks have understood this fact and have looked to provide the best experience at the ATMs. They are also contemplating on other value-added services that they can provide to customers at ATMs in order to keep them banked.

Today the ATMs are doing more than just dispensing cash. It can be used to deposit cash, or the utility bills can also be paid through it. ATMs’ uniform and consistent customer experience have played a pivotal role in keeping the ATMs relevant and preserved the future of ATMs to some extent despite the presence of different digital channels.  

Conclusion