ATMIA Announces WithdrawCashWednesday Campaign to Promote Consumer Cash Use During Holiday Shopping Season

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) today announced WithdrawCashWednesday (Campaign), a brand-new initiative dedicated to encourage consumers to increase cash usage for their holiday shopping in 2017 and beyond.

The Campaign originated at the 2016 U.S. Conference during the International Marketing Forum (IMF) by NationalLink’s Marketing Director Raymond Ching. “Stemming from the clear need of cash during the holiday season and to assist consumers in budgeting, a holiday to promote cash usage was born,” said Raymond Ching.

“Cash is used for over 80 percent of global retail transactions,” said ATMIA CEO Mike Lee. “The goal of WithdrawCashWednesday is to help raise awareness of ATMs, promote the cash economy and combat the negative press being put out by card networks that cash is dead.”

Since June 2016, the WithdrawCashWednesday’s Founding Partners have been volunteering their time to kick off the promotion in 2017. The Founding Partners include: ATMIA, Blanda Marketing and Public Relations, MoneyPass Network®, NationalLink Inc., Pueblo Bank & Trust, and Strategic Marketing. The Campaign will be celebrated on Wednesday November 22, 2017 and all subsequent Wednesday prior to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

IMF chairperson Alicia Blanda, CEO of Blanda Marketing and Public Relations, points out, “it is important to raise awareness about the convenience and safety cash provides for consumers.”

Benefits of cash usage include:

• Helping consumers stay within budget. Cash provides a tactile and visual evaluation of available funds.
• Saving time. Many retailers have cash only lines for checkout.
• Zero interest fees. By using cash, consumers save money after the holidays by reducing interest fee charges.
• Security. Considering the number of recent data breaches at trusted stores such as Target, Home Depot and others, security is top of mind for many consumers. Using cash prevents criminals from stealing card data to make fraudulent transactions from the point of sale.

Lee encourages every ATM operator and merchant to get involved in raising awareness of the positive benefits of cash usage through this program and congratulates the MoneyPass Surcharge Free Network for being the first sponsor.  

"MoneyPass is excited to be a part of the new pro cash initiative," says Doug Miraglia, president of MoneyPass Network. "This is another great concept from the ATMIA that will provide significant benefit for all involved, and MoneyPass is proud to participate as a founding member and Platinum Sponsor." 

Visit www.withdrawcashwednesday.com to be a part of the movement!

ABOUT ATMIA — The ATM Industry Association, established in 1997, is a non-profit global trade association with over 8,000 members in 66 countries. As an independent, non-profit trade association, our mission is: to promote ATM convenience, growth and usage worldwide; to protect the ATM industry's assets, interests, good name and public trust; and to provide education, best practices, political voice and networking opportunities for member organizations.