The ATM

An ATM is a special machine that gives you money from your bank account. ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. You can find ATMs at banks, stores, and many other places.

The Invention of the ATM

The first ATM was set up in London, England, in 1967. A man named John Shepherd-Barron came up with the idea. He got frustrated one day when he arrived at the bank just after it closed.

He thought there should be a machine that gives out money any time of day or night. The first ATM used special paper vouchers instead of plastic cards. Soon, banks around the world began installing their own ATMs.

How ATMs Work

To use an ATM, you put in your bank card and type in a secret number called a PIN. The machine connects to your bank's computer to check your account. Then it gives you the money you asked for.

ATMs can also show your account balance, let you put money in your account, and even print receipts. There are millions of ATMs all over the world, making banking easy and fast.

Fun Facts

• There are about 3 million ATMs around the world.
• The first ATM was installed in London in 1967.
• The inventor of the ATM got the idea from a chocolate vending machine.

Did You Know?

The world's highest ATM is at a bank on a mountain pass in Pakistan, about 15,000 feet above sea level.