Often referred to as 'cash dispensers' or 'hole in the wall machines', they are a cross between a cash till and a computers which enable users to access their bank accounts and carry out transactions such as withdrawing cash. The first cash machine was introduced by Barclays Bank in 1967 outside its Enfield branch.
Customers can usually withdraw cash free of charge using a debit card.
Security is taken care of by individual users having a password which is known only to them. But there have been odd security questionmarks over ATMs with some users claiming 'phantom withdrawals'. Not surprisingly, ATMs are to be found in most countries around the world. Visa claims a network of 150,000. The average withdrawal is estimated to be 48 per visit.