Bank of America Starts Offering ATM Withdrawals Using Apple Pay

Monday June 20, 2016 4:20 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Bank of America has begun rolling out support for withdrawing cash from its ATMs using Apple Pay.

Approximately 650 card-less ATMs were deployed in the San Francisco area in May, and the technology expanded to 2,400 ATMs, including eleven in the Raleigh-Durham region, in early June.

The new ability was also spotted by a Reddit user located in Redondo Beach, California, who took a picture of an ATM apparently featuring an NFC reader positioned to the left of the card reader (via 9to5Mac).

Bank of America ATM Apple Pay
When a smartphone is placed on the NFC logo, the user is prompted to enter their PIN number, after which they are taken to a typical withdrawal screen, although the option to deposit money is disabled.

Bank of America is said to be highlighting the new feature on supported ATMs, but customers should note that the Apple Pay option currently only works with bank cards issued by Bank of America, and not all NFC-equipped ATMs support Apple Pay at present.

Bank of America has launched a website detailing the process of withdrawing cash using Apple Pay. The site notes that "Consumer Debit Cards, US Trust Debit Cards, Small Business Debit Cards (owner card only)" are currently supported.

News that Bank of America and Wells Fargo were working on implementing Apple Pay into their ATMs first appeared back in January. Rollout to Bank of America's more than 16,000 ATMs was said to begin mid-2016, but no timeline was given for Wells Fargo.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: Bank of America, ATMs
34 comments


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Waxhead138
28 months ago

Only Bank of America cards? Oh, I thought they could use any card on Apple Pay. Oh well.

I don't think I would use this though because I don't really use cash that often.


That is kind of ironic now that you bring it up lol. I think it's a cool implementation...but using a payment method that was partially designed to alleviate the need to carry cash is now used to get cash. That said it keeps the service versatile, and there where always be a situation where cash will be needed.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Nicksd84
28 months ago
Awesome. Can't wait till the day I don't need a physical card in my pocket.
Rating: 3 Votes
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timborama
28 months ago
Only proves cash is still more useful than Pay
Rating: 3 Votes
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kdarling
28 months ago

Bank of America has begun rolling out support for withdrawing cash from its ATMs using Apple Pay (via 9to5Mac ('http://9to5mac.com/2016/06/19/apple-pay-bank-of-america-cash-withdrawals/')).


Or put more generally, they're adding support for NFC debit card transactions, which includes Apple Pay, among others.

They're still sticking to the PIN requirement for debit cards, though.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Chupa Chupa
28 months ago
I love the concept but they need to figure out how to make it "universal." For example, I use Fidelity Investments as my "bank" since it allows me to use any ATM fee-free, not just one particular bank's ATM. Under the current implementation, I can't use ApplePay, which is a shame b/c it's not only more convenient, it's safer and more secure for both parties.
Rating: 2 Votes
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kdarling
28 months ago

They are apparently making a distinction between simply supporting NFC, and supporting Apple Pay. Does this mean that the TouchID component of Apple Pay will replace the need to enter a PIN? Or is this similar to a merchant placing an Apple Pay logo next to the NFC reader at the check-out?


I didn't see any distinction being made between NFC and Apple Pay on the part of BofA. Heck, I don't even see AP mentioned at all on the BA announcement page ('http://promo.bankofamerica.com/cardlessatm/?cm_mmc=DEP-General-_-vanity-_-DG01VN001L_cardlessatm-_-NA'). The distinction seems to be the usual Apple website emphasis instead.

Also nope, TouchId does not replace the need for a PIN. Visa and MC have long said that PINs will stay necessary for ATM withdrawals as an extra security measure.

It isn't a 'geeky gimmick' if you can use your fingerprint instead of entering a PIN, in the UK we have had a lot of issues with cards being skimmed and cloned at cash points, maybe it's a world wide problem. I was saying last week that if we didn't have to put a card in or enter a PIN it would have a huge impact on fraud as it would be near impossible to clone cards.


Fingerprints don't stop card cloning. Nor does the transaction being contactless.

What stops card cloning is using a token (which is not secret, btw, since it's sent every time) instead of the real account number... but only if there's also a secret crypto key installed on the phone that is NEVER sent out. Any EMV token based payment method will have this, including Apple Pay.

The above linking scenarios, though not keeping me awake at night, are troublesome. Precisely why so many people like the privacy aspect of ApplePay.


Many of us have spent a lifetime getting local stores and restaurants to know us by name, so we get personalized service and favors. I mean, good grief, the local pharmacy knows much more personal stuff about my family than anyone else does :)
Rating: 1 Votes
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avanpelt
28 months ago
Strange that the option to deposit money is disabled when using Apple Pay. That's pretty much the only reason I go to an ATM these days.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Sill
28 months ago
You guys know I don't like Apple Pay at all, but even my paranoid brain sees this ATM withdrawal feature is definitely a good thing. ATM/debit cards are just about the least secure thing going right now in banking. Its far more convenient for a thief to skim a card than it is to forge a check. If there was one reason for me to accept Apple Pay, this would be it.
Rating: 1 Votes
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2457282
28 months ago
I like this new development. With Apple Pay, I need to carry less cards (still need to carry at least one since it is still not universal). If I can also start to get rid of arm cards it is awesome. Final blow to my wallet will be when the drivers license can be digitized.
Rating: 1 Votes
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macs4nw
28 months ago

Or put more generally, they're adding support for NFC debit card transactions, which includes Apple Pay, among others.

They're still sticking to the PIN requirement for debit cards, though.

My understanding is that you still need the PIN number, even with your smartphone. TouchId would be the logical choice.
Rating: 1 Votes
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