ATMs To Ditch The Card For Smartphones
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Smartphones are becoming more integrated into our everyday lives. Now several banks will soon allow the smartphone to replace our ATM cards.
"No fumbling to get your wallet out of your purse or find your debit card," said Michelle Moore, head of digital banking at Bank of America.
Moore said the ATMs are equipped with an NFC reader that senses an ATM card stored in your smartphone.
"You hold the phone over the reader," Moore explained as a check mark appeared on the device. "(I) enter my pin, just like you would with your debit card. Withdraw cash, $20, from my checking account. I don't want a receipt today. And we're all done."
Other banks, including Chase and Wells Fargo, plan to introduce cardless ATMs this year.
Greg McBride of bankrate.com believes the plastic card will eventually go by the wayside.
"You are going to see phones play a bigger role in routine transactions," he said.
Experts say phones are safer than plastic cards because a thief would need to unlock a stolen phone and also know the victim's pin number.
The phone could also solve the problem of skimming – where criminals rig an ATM slot with a tiny reader that can steal card information.
"With all new technologies, it takes a little bit of time to get used to it. But once you're used to it, you really see how easy it is," Moore said.
A handful of ATMs have the technology right now, but Bank of America plans to have it in 3,000 machines by the end of the year.
Customers will still be able to use their plastic card in the new ATMs.
