Personal Finance Tips

How to use cardless ATMs and where can you find them?

Adam Rozsa

22.08.23 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 3 minutes

Need cash, but left your debit card at home? Perhaps you use a mobile wallet and don’t have a physical card.

What you need in this situation is a cardless ATM. But how does a cardless ATM work, and where can you find your nearest? Read on to find out.

We’ll also take a quick look at the Wise card, which can be added to mobile wallets and used at cardless ATMs for easy cash withdrawals.

Can I withdraw money from an ATM without a card?

Yes, in recent years, there has been a rise in the number of cardless ATMs available throughout the US.

They’ve become more popular following the Covid-19 pandemic, when contactless payments were preferred over having to physically touch ATMs and card terminals.

Also, more people than ever are now using mobile wallets, so don’t always have a physical card with them.

What is a cardless ATM?

A cardless ATM lets you withdraw cash using your mobile or other smart device instead of a physical debit card.

They tend to use the same technology as used in contactless payments, called near-field communications or NFC. Others use QR codes.

You may not be able to make a cardless ATM withdrawal just anywhere though. You’ll need to use a cardless ATM owned by your bank, and not all offer them. Some require you to have the bank’s app installed on your phone.

How do I use a cardless ATM?

Cardless ATMs work in slightly different ways depending on the bank. Here are a few of the possible methods you may encounter:

NFC. All you need to do is open your mobile wallet, choose a payment card and hold your device close to the contactless symbol on the ATM.

QR codes. The ATM will display a QR code on the screen, which you’ll need to scan using your mobile device.

App codes. If your bank requires you to have their app before using a cardless ATM, you’ll need to request a withdrawal there before heading to the ATM. You’ll be given a code, which you can enter at the ATM.

Use your Wise card for contactless ATM withdrawals and payments

Have a Wise Account? Get a Wise debit card for a one-time fee of just $9, and you can add a digital card to your mobile wallet. This makes it a breeze to use cardless ATMs and make contactless payments worldwide.

Wise is a money service business, offering a multi-currency account and a debit card suitable for everyday use.

You can use your Wise debit card to:

Spend and withdraw cash from ATMs in 160 countries
Have your USD automatically converted to the local currency where you are at the mid-market exchange rate, whenever you spend. There’s just a small fee to convert the currency, and no foreign transaction fees.
Withdraw up to $100 from overseas ATMs for free (although ATM operators may charge their own fees).

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Which banks have cardless ATMs?

Not every bank has embraced cardless cash withdrawals. But the good news is that a few of the major ones do. For example, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase all offer cardless ATMs.

Here’s the current list, including the mobile wallet or bank app you’ll need to have:

Bank	Contactless withdrawal method
Bank of America¹	Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Tap to pay with your debit card
BMO Harris Bank²	BMO Digital Banking app
Chase³	Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Wells Fargo⁴	Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Tap to pay with your debit card
PNC Bank⁵	PNC Mobile app

Cardless ATM locations - where to find your nearest

If your bank offers cardless ATMs, all you need to do is go to the branch locator tool on their website. For example, you can find Wells Fargo cardless ATMs here, and cardless ATMs with Chase here.

Bottom line

So there you have it - everything you need to know about cardless ATMs.

If you use mobile wallets, they’re the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to contactless spending. They let you withdraw cash without needing a physical card, just like you can pay in stores with just your phone via digital wallets.

Using Wise? You can add your Wise card to Google Pay or Apple Pay, then you can withdraw cash at cardless ATMs with just a tap of your phone.

Learn more about Wise

Frequently asked questions

Can you use cardless ATMs anywhere?

Not all banks have cardless ATMs, so you’ll need to check whether yours offers this service. And if you need to download the bank’s app or add your card to a digital wallet first.

Can you use tap to pay at ATMs?

Yes, if the bank accepts contactless payments at ATMs, you can simply tap your card near the contactless symbol. However, some banks require you to use their mobile app, or to add your card to a digital wallet first.

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 13-Jul-2023.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.