Despite widespread commentary on our cashless age, the ATM industry trends tells a more nuanced story —one that encompasses technological advances and compelling regional growth narratives. This A to Z captures the current state of an industry in transition, with 2.9 million machines strong and continuing to evolve.
A: ATM-as-a-Service (ATMaaS)
As the software and tech world goes ‘as a service’, the ATM industry is following suit. More traditional FIs each year are signing up to have external providers take care of the full management cycle of their ATM fleets, ensuring customers retain access to cash but freeing up resources to reinvest in digital channels.
B: Branch closures
The world’s largest banking groups continue to slim down their branch networks, shifting more services to mobile. The branches that remain are being reformatted to suit a broader range of customer needs, while off-site ATMs have become a key tool in maintaining the FI-client connection in a more branchless world.
C: Cash
The economy is undoubtedly now digital, but not yet cashless. The number and value of cash withdrawals are down globally, but cash remains relevant as the most reliable form of payment when cyberattacks or natural disasters strike, and as a tangible tool for saving and budgeting.
D: Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf has the largest share of ATMs installed worldwide. It is particularly prevalent in Latin America, the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe.
E: Emerging markets
The number of ATMs globally continues to decline, but exciting ATM growth stories are coming out of fast-growing economies like Uzbekistan and Egypt, where financial inclusion initiatives are powering ATM network expansion.
F: Functionality
Innovation in the ATM industry is driving the installation of more efficient and secure ATMs, capable of authenticating transactions via mobile or biometric means. These ATM industry trends toward enhanced functionality show the range of services available at ATMs is also widening; cash deposits are now available at over half of the global installed base.
G: Geographical differences
Regional ATM industry trends reveal significant differences worldwide, with these ATM industry trends varying dramatically by geography. The Asia-Pacific region continues to experience the sharpest decline in ATM numbers on the back of widespread reductions in China. The Middle East, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe stand out as two regions with growing installed bases.
H: Hyosung TNS
The Korean ATM manufacturer Hyosung TNS is the third largest in the world. It has the greatest share of ATMs installed in North America, thanks to a strong presence in the expansive U.S. independent ATM deployer (IAD) market.
I: IADs
The presence of IADs is growing globally every year. Despite the Asia-Pacific region’s shrinking ATM network, IAD installations are surging in key markets such as India and Indonesia.
J: Japanese suppliers
Two of the leading ATM manufacturers globally, Hitachi Channel Solutions and OKI, are based in Japan.
K: Key market statistics
There are 2.9 million ATMs globally, 983,000 bank branches, and 360 ATMs per million people.
L: Locations
Over half of ATMs globally are now placed off-site, linked to bank branch closures and growth by IADs. Branch-based ATMs are typically located in dedicated lobby areas, which are accessible outside of branch operating hours.
M: Middle East and Africa
This region was the fastest growing in terms of ATMs and the only region to see an increase in branch numbers, with financial inclusion acting as the most significant driver of growth.
N: NCR Atleos
NCR Atleos has the second-largest share of the global installed base, and the single largest share in Western Europe and the Middle East and Africa.
O: Outsourcing
As ATM technology evolves, maintenance is becoming more complex, driving more deployers to outsource first and second-line support globally.
P: Pooling
FIs are increasingly sharing ATM networks through pooling initiatives that combine separate fleets under a single brand. This collaborative approach is most advanced in Europe; Belgium and the Netherlands have pioneered successful pooling models.
Q: QR codes
A small but growing proportion of ATMs globally are equipped with QR code readers, allowing customers to authenticate transactions with a QR code in their banking apps. The reverse is also possible, where a customer uses their phone to scan a QR code on the ATM screen.
R: Recycling
Most deposit ATMs globally are also recycling-capable, a key part of deployers’ efficiency strategies and optimising cash-in-transit schedules.
S: Software
Deployers are investing more in specialised software types globally. Still, there is particularly significant potential for growth in customer relationship management software, with many ATMs globally running without a dedicated solution.
T: Transactions
Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries are the bread and butter of ATM transactions, but they can also offer extra services, such as transfers and bill payments. More operators are using the ATM screen for advertising, promoting banking and other products to customers during their transaction time.
U: Utility networks
Along with ATMaaS and pooling, utility networks are emerging as a significant alternative model to traditional ATM fleet management. More FIs are scaling back their fleets but signing up with utility networks, which give their customers access to fee-free transactions at a standardised, interoperable fleet of ATMs owned by a third party.
V: Vendor landscape
Global vendor shares remain relatively stable and consolidated. The Asia-Pacific region has, by far, the most varied supplier landscape and the largest number of domestic players. Japan’s Fujitsu has announced plans to withdraw from ATM manufacturing by the end of the decade.
W: Windows migration
ATM operators are accelerating the shift from legacy operating systems to Windows 10, prioritising security and vendor support while phasing out outdated systems. Operators are also now readying their systems for migration to Windows 11.
X: eXpansion efforts
The global ATM installed base continues its overall decline, but certain players are undertaking significant expansion efforts. This is true even in mature markets such as the U.S., where some banking groups have announced plans to increase their branch and ATM footprints significantly.
Y: Youth and digital natives
The new generation of digital natives presents challenges and opportunities for the ATM industry and a call to action to integrate ATM services with the mobile app experience whenever possible. Recent online trends for cash stuffing for budgeting also show that digital-first generations are not necessarily cashless.
Z: Zero-ATM zones
Despite the world’s extensive and shrinking ATM network, significant coverage gaps remain, particularly in rural and remote areas, which are underserved by banking infrastructure. These zero, or near-zero, ATM zones represent a compelling case for financial inclusion and a new opportunity for targeted deployment by FIs and IADs.
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