Access your savings with your smartphone using cardless ATMs

Some of the top banks have found a way to make accessing your cash even easier. With secure apps installed on your mobile phone, you can access your digital wallet to withdraw the money from an ATM. Your phone is already at your fingertips – now your cash will be too.

What are cardless ATMs and how do they work?

Cardless cash works by providing you with a unique code that you enter into an ATM to withdraw cash when you don’t have your card. This is beneficial if you’re on a run, at the beach, at an amusement park or anywhere else you don’t want to carry a card. You can even share your code with friends or family members so they can withdraw money when you’re not there.

Apple Pay cardless ATMs

Apple Pay is accepted at most cardless ATMs including Wells Fargo, Chase and Bank of America. Apple Pay uses near-field communication (NFC) for cardless ATM access. To verify that an ATM is NFC-enabled, look for the contactless symbol and follow these steps to withdraw money:

1. Open your Apple Pay Wallet.
2. Select which card you want to use.
3. Tap your phone against the contactless symbol.
4. Enter your card’s PIN.

The ATM will then verify your identity and finalize your transaction.

Google Pay cardless ATMs

Google Pay works the same as Apple Pay. You can withdraw money at any ATM that has the contactless symbol. Simply open your Google Pay Wallet, click on your card you wish to use, tap your phone against the contactless symbol and enter your PIN. The ATM will then finalize your transaction.

CashTapp cardless ATMs

Select Capital One 360 Checking customers can withdraw money at any cardless ATM with a CashTapp sticker. Use the ATM finder in the CashTapp app to find a cardless ATM near you. Then, follow these steps:

1. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw into the CashTapp app.
2. Move your phone near the CashTapp sticker on the ATM until it’s securely connected.
3. Follow the prompts on your phone to verify your transaction and get your money.

Paydiant cardless ATMs

Many small banks offer cardless ATM access to customers through Paydiant, which is owned by PayPal. Paydiant uses an app-generated QR code to grant you cardless ATM access. Once you’ve located a cardless ATM in your bank’s mobile app, follow these steps:

1. Open your mobile banking app and request your withdraw.
2. Click on the Mobile Cash Access option on the ATM.
3. Use your phone to scan the QR code on the ATM’s screen.
4. Grab your cash from the ATM.

Cardless app-generated codes vs. near-field communication

There are two ways your phone may connect with a cardless ATM: through app-generated codes or near-field communication (NFC).
App-generated codes are typically QR codes, although they can be a series of numbers. If your ATM uses this type of technology, you request a withdraw in your mobile app and then scan or enter the code once you get to the ATM. Then, the ATM verifies your identity and authenticates your transaction.

Some ATMs use NFC to conduct cardless transactions. With this type of cardless ATM, you tap your phone against the ATM’s contactless symbol and your phone’s digital wallet pulls up. From there, you select which card you want to use from your wallet and enter your PIN. Then, the ATM authenticates your transaction.

Popular accounts with cardless ATM access

As this feature becomes more common in the US, it’s important to compare your options and consider features related to cardless ATMs.

Bank	App	OS	ATM network	Compatible accounts	Security features
Bank of America	Google Pay		Cardless ATM nationwide locations indicated by a contactless symbol near the card reader.	Consumer debit cards, U.S. trust debit cards, small business debit cards (owner card only)	PIN
Wells Fargo	Wells Fargo Mobile – Card-Free Access		You can use your code at any Wells Fargo ATM. Pinpad only available at Wells Fargo teller PIN pads that display the contactless symbol.	Wells Fargo debit and Wells Fargo EasyPay cards	PIN/ATM Access Code
Chase	Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay mobile wallet		Cardless ATM access is currently available on Chase ATMs where you see a cardless symbol.	Consumer debit cards (excluding CPC Privileges card), business debit cards (excluding Business Associate cards) and Chase Liquid cards	PIN
Capital One	CashTapp		CashTapp is currently available for Capital One 360 Checking customers in these cities: Austin, TX Boston, MA Chicago, IL Philadelphia, PA Richmond, VA San Francisco, CA Check out the app for specific ATM locations.	360 Checking account	None. Once you’ve scheduled your withdrawal, head to the ATM and sign in to CashTapp. Then, move your phone close to the ATM’s CashTapp sticker.
Fifth Third Bank	Fifth Third mobile banking app		Fifth Third operates approximately 2,500 ATMs in its 10-state retail footprint, all of which will offer card-free access.	N/A	PIN
PayPal	Paydiant		72,000 ATM locations across the US	N/A	QR code

Editor's pick: Chase Total Checking

• Access 16,000 ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches
• 24/7 customer service
• Cardless ATM access with eligible Chase debit card added to mobile wallet

Editor's pick: Chase Total Checking

Special offer: $200 sign up bonus. Get $200 with a new Chase Total Checking account and set up direct deposit within 60 days of opening your account.

• No minimum deposit to open
• Linked debit card: Visa
• ATM withdrawal fee: $0
• Access to 16,000 ATMs

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Compare checking accounts with cardless ATM access

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Name	Product	Minimum deposit to open	ATMs	Out-of-network ATM fee
Chase Total Checking		$0	Access to 16,000 ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches nationwide	$2.50	Get a $200 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking account and set up direct deposit within 60 days of opening your account. Chase's simplest checking account is easy to use and gives you access to 16,000 ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches. Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Premier Plus Checking		$0	Access to 16,000 ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches nationwide	$2.50	Get a $300 signup bonus as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase Premier Plus Checking account and set up direct deposit. Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
BBVA Online Checking		$25	No ATM fees nationwide at more than 64,000 AllPoint, participating 7-Eleven and BBVA USA ATMs	$3	A full-service account with convenient, surcharge-free access to two massive ATM networks	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking		$25	16,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide	$2.50	Customize your account to fit your needs and experience our full scope of services	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking		$25	More than 13,000 Wells Fargo ATMs nationwide	$2.50	Everyday Checking is banking made easy. Open with $25.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What are the benefits of using cardless cash?

• The convenience of traveling light. With cardless cash, you have the ability to travel light when the occasion calls for it.
• In cases of emergencies. You can continue to access your cash even if you’ve left your wallet at home.
• You can share it with your trusted family and friends. This makes it easier to give family members limited access to the account when they need it. Rather than paying for extra debit cards or worrying about how much they withdraw, you can control their spending by using the app.
• No additional costs for using it. The app works the same as a debit card when withdrawing money. As long as you’re using ATMs in your bank’s network, you should not be charged any additional fees.
• Increased security. In some ways, the app provides more security as the code is for one use only, rather than a debit card which prompts you for the same code each time you use it.

What are the drawbacks of using cardless cash?

• Only at select banks. Right now, only select banks in the US offer this feature with their accounts, limiting your choices when making comparisons.
• Relies on ATM’s network. If the ATM network is down, you will not be able to use the code to withdraw money until it is up and running again.
• Cardless ATM fraud. If someone gets ahold of your bank’s login credentials and PIN, they can connect your account to their phone and withdraw money without needing your physical debit card.

Security tips when using cardless cash

With any product or device that provides access to your money, either on or offline, you need to be careful about its security. To best protect your money when using cardless cash, avoid the following:

• Protect your online banking details

Never share the password to your online bank account. With the password, people could gain access to your cardless cash details and make withdrawals without your consent.

• Monitor suspicious transactions on your account

Although banks take precautions to protect your information, there is always the possibility of a hack. If you notice unauthorized withdrawals from your account using cardless cash, notify the bank immediately.

Common questions about cardless ATMs

How do banks ensure cardless cash transactions are secure?

Banks use a two-step verification to make sure your transactions are secure. For example, your bank may require you to log in to its official mobile app and enter a passcode at the ATM before you can withdraw funds. Or, it may require you to load your ATM card into a digital wallet that uses near-field communications (NFC) and your PIN to verify the transaction. Either way, these two measures typically make it safer to use a cardless ATM over a traditional one because it eliminates the threat of skimming devices.

How do I withdraw money from an ATM with my phone?

In most cases, you access your phone’s digital wallet using your fingerprint or facial scan. Then, you tap your phone against the ATM, enter your PIN and select how much money you want to withdraw.

How extensive is the cardless ATM network?

You can locate nearby cardless ATMs in your bank’s mobile app or website. In gerneral, make sure use an ATM that offers a cardless feature.

Can someone else pick up my cash from a cardless ATM?

Some banks may offer a sharing option where you can have someone else pick up your cash. Check with your bank to see if this is an option. In some cases, you just need to provide the app with the appropriate person’s mobile phone number.

Are there limits on cardless cash withdrawals?

You may be limited to the amount of money you can withdraw daily from your account. See your bank’s account disclosure for details.

Is there a time limit applied to cardless withdrawals?

As an added security measure, your cardless ATM verification code will typically expire after a set period of time — usually 30 minutes or so. You should see the exact length of time when you receive the code.