Wells Fargo & Company announced the launch of near-field communication (NFC)-powered ATMs across the U.S.
At more than 5,000 ATMs across the U.S., Wells Fargo’s debit card customers can use smartphones to withdraw money – without using their ATM cards at ATM counters.
More than 40 percent of Wells Fargo ATMs have functioning NFC capability. The goal is to upgrade the rest of the company’s more than 13,000 ATMs with the NFC hardware by 2019. Customers can access any Wells Fargo ATM without a physical card by generating a one-time access code through their Wells Fargo Mobile Banking app.
With the launch of one-time access code in March 2017, Wells Fargo became the first large bank in the US with an entire fleet of card-free ATMs.
“This spring’s launch of one-time access code technology at all Wells Fargo ATMs has resulted in nearly three million card-free ATM access code transactions. Card-free ATM use will take another leap as we introduce NFC functionality,” said Jonathan Velline, head of Strategy and Administration for Community Bank.
A customer can initiate an ATM transaction by signing into leading mobile wallet features, such as Wells Fargo Wallet for Android Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay, found on mobile phones. They hold their phone or wearable device with mobile payment functionality near an NFC-enabled ATM terminal.
Wells Fargo ATMs enabled for this feature will display a “contactless symbol” decal on the front of the ATM. The customer will input their Wells Fargo Debit or EasyPay Card Personal Identification Number (PIN) and complete their transaction.
“Our customers are increasingly using mobile to manage their finances and make payments, which makes it ever important for Wells Fargo to provide our more than 20 million mobile banking and mobile wallet customers with a seamless mobile authentication and access experience at our ATMs, online, and in our branches,” said Jim Smith, head of Virtual Channels.
