Where’s the Strangest Place You Have Seen an ATM? | FF News at Retail Bank Transformation Europe

Where’s the strangest place you have seen an ATM? 

ATMs are a vital part of the financial infrastructure all around the world.

And they pop up in some interesting places… 

We asked attendees and exhibitors at Datos Insights Retail Bank Transformation Europe which ones stuck out to them, and we got some interesting answers!… 

The important role of ATMs

The video above, which was recorded at the Datos Insights Retail Bank Transformation event, contains attendees and exhibitors sharing their stories of the most unusual places they’ve encountered ATMs.

Cash use is still enormous around the world, accounting for at least 16 percent of POS payments, with some countries seeing a share of cash based transactions far higher than this. ATMs play a key role in the lives of many so it’s no surprise then that they would turn up in unusual places, serving the people there with a much needed access to cash, or indeed something else…

We know when we’re asking the right people, as many of these financial experts cited ATMs that have appeared in lists like this one from The Telegraph. Some of the answers above really are fascinating and go to show how banking technology pops up in almost all walks of life, and at almost all altitudes!

John Ennis from Cennox set the tone with a mountain-top example: an ATM located in the Himalayas. Perched on a mountaintop, this machine seemed more like a marvel of logistics than a financial convenience. The sheer determination required to install and maintain an ATM in such a remote, high-altitude location speaks volumes about the reach of modern banking.

Jennifer Ham from Datos Insights brought a unique perspective from her travels in Asia. She described ATM boats—floating machines that navigate waterways to bring banking services to isolated communities. It’s an ingenious solution in areas where rivers and canals serve as the primary means of transportation.

It’s not just cash you can get from ATMs

Chris Skinner from The Finanser shifted the focus entirely to his example from the Emirates Hotel in Abu Dhabi. There, he came across a gold-dispensing ATM. Yes, instead of cash, users could withdraw actual gold bars. It’s a testament to the opulence of the setting and the creative ways ATMs can cater to niche markets, however unfortunately for the ultra rich reading this, it’s no longer open.

Matthew Phillips from Diebold Nixdorf offered a sun-soaked anecdote from Croatia. On a picturesque beach, he encountered an ATM guarded 24/7 by security personnel. This wasn’t your standard seaside accessory—it was a necessity because the nearby bar only accepted cash, making the machine an essential fixture for beachgoers.

Will King from Secure Innovation recalled a standalone ATM on a desolate back road in Greece. With nothing else around it, the machine seemed almost surreal—a solitary sentinel of financial services in the middle of nowhere. It raised questions about who might use it and how often it’s restocked.

Finally, Owen Wild from NCR Atleos took things to another extreme with his mention of an ATM in Antarctica. Located at a science research base, this machine serves scientists and staff living in one of the harshest environments on Earth and one of the most populous places in Antarctica. 

So, whether it’s a bustling beach, a snowy research station, or a mountain peak, ATMs prove that banking can reach places you’d never expect. Fintech professionals, take note—innovation often starts in the strangest of places.

Be sure to catch more of our interviews from Retail Bank Transformation right here.