Automatic or Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are computerized machines that are designed to perform functions of a bank teller. You can carry out a range of financial transactions sans any time restraint. An ATM facilitates comfortable and convenient banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - not necessarily from the premises of your bank. With access to ATMs across cities and countries, you seldom require to carry large amount of cash. You can save time and avoid traveling all the way to the bank premises to withdraw cash, find your account balance and deposit cheques. You can put your ATM card to use for buying as it directly pays from your checking or savings account. Banks too benefit as they save on operation cost by reducing the number of visitors to their premises.

As an ATM cardholder, are you aware of the possible pitfalls of using ATMs? Thefts of ATM cards, misuse of ATM cards or fraudulent card transactions are on the rise across the globe. Banks are struggling to put effective measures in place to control ATM frauds. As a customer, the onus of responsibility to minimize possible hardships lies in your hands too. Read this section and benefit using tips provided for protecting yourself against fraud from ATM usages.

Multiple ATM
Automated Teller Machines ATM came into use in the late 1960s and have revolutionized the banking industry. What began merely as cash-dispensing machines have now metamorphosed into multi-purpose machines ? from taking deposits and transferring money from accounts to providing cash advances against a credit card and making payments. You can find ATMs at the premises of banks as well as in commercial establishments, residential areas, airports, railway stations and petrol pumps. In order to make banking convenient for customers, banks are vying with each other to provide maximum outlets with ATM facility. Mobile vans with Automatic Teller Machines ATM are parked in specific areas to facilitate easy banking. Many banks have also introduced ATMs for visually challenged people. These ATMs have specially designed function keys that guide the customers to operate the ATMs.

ATM plastic card
ATM cards enable you to carry financial transactions from your savings, current account or credit card accounts. To access an ATM, you need to insert your plastic card into the Automatic teller machine. The machine reads the magnetic strip at the back of the ATM card, which contains cardholder account details. To confirm access by genuine cardholder, you will be requested to key in a personal identification number (PIN). This number (usually four-digit) is a system-generated number that will be provided at the time of opening the account. You can opt to change the PIN number by requesting for a change either by contacting the bank or by using the ATM machine. Once the right PIN number is typed, the ATM recognizes the cardholder details and account details