US ATM count approaches half a million

From ATMmarketplace.com

The ATM Industry Association has announced that its latest analysis indicates an ATM operating base in the U.S. of 475,000 to 500,000 units.

This represents an increase from previous estimates ranging from 425,000 to 450,000 ATMs, and follows years of stagnating growth attributable to an expensive and complex EMV migration, operating system updates, costly ADA updates and, of course, the Great Recession.

"These numbers confirm what we have suspected in recent months," ATMIA U.S. Executive Director David Tente said in a press release. "There is growing recognition of the important role that ATMs play in our payments system and — alongside of it — in a new wave of branch transformation that is sweeping through the banking industry."

Coinciding with the increase are new ATM functionalities such as prestaged cash withdrawals, contactless technologies, person-to-person money transfer and a trend toward smaller bank branches that depend to a greater degree on advanced-function terminals.

The release also said that deployers and manufacturers are welcoming the next generation of ATMs, which will rely on app-based platforms for an enhanced user experience, improved security and greater interoperability.

Collectively, these factors will drive accelerating growth in the ATM channel, according to the ATMIA.
 

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ATMIA members can learn more about industry advances by visiting the new global ATM innovation portal on the association's website.