ATM simply means an automated teller machine. This machine dispenses cash and virtually performs all other banking services when an account holder inserts a bank card into it. As a customer to a bank that issues debit or credit card, you can make basic banking transactions with your bank card without the aid of any bank branch representative or teller.
ATM are found throughout cities and localities which give customers easy access to their bank accounts. Anyone with a debit or credit card will be able to access most ATMs. Usually, transactions done by using an ATM machine operated by your bank don’t attract any charge but accessing your account and making transactions through an ATM machine owned by a competing bank may attract little money deduction from your account. For example, in Nigeria if you use an ATM machine owned by a competing commercial bank three times within a month, Central bank of Nigeria stipulated money deduction from your account is thirty-five naira (N35)
Before I proceed further, I presume you’ve used an ATM before but peradventure you’ve not. You can look at how to use it.
How to Use an ATM
To use the ATM Machine, follow the following steps:
- Visit any ATM Machine outlet close to you
- Insert your bank ATM card, debit card or credit into the ATM Machine
- Enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN), a secret password that you create.
- Then select the banking service you require (deposit, withdrawal, transfer funds, account inquiry, etc.)
- Follow the instructions on-screen displayed to complete your transaction. This is how to use an ATM.
Let’s discuss to uses of ATM machine……….
Uses of ATM – Top 15
Here are 15 uses of ATM:
ATM can be used to recharge Airtime on your mobile phones and devices. This is usually done in two ways:
- Virtual top-up (VTU) – You can top-up airtime on phone automatically by increasing the previous credit balance by the amount you requested. This is available for all MTN, Zain and Glo network subscribers.
- Quickteller Option – With quick teller, you can buy airtime, make payment online and shop online.
2. Shopping
Online Shopping has been made simple and easy as many online business owners now integrate payment options into their websites. With an ATM machine, you can buy products and items online with ease and also pay at some retail shops.
The bank’s terms and conditions are still applied. Ensure you read their terms and conditions before you initiate transaction.
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Buy and Transfer Airtime to Others
You can buy and transfer airtime to your family member, relative or friend through ATM machine. This is usually easy and possible if you own account with the bank that owns the ATM machine. You can send any amount of airtime to your family members, relative and friend using ATM.
4. Cash Withdrawal
This is the very use of ATM machine everybody knows about. ATM machine provides 24/7 Cash Withdrawal from your account.
5. Printing of Mini Statement of your bank account
With ATM machine, you can print the last eight transactions on own account. This usually important when you want to get details statement of few last bank transactions made on your account.
You must request for the statement of account before you can print.
6. Intra Bank transfer
The transfer of money from one bank account to another account of the same bank using an ATM machine is intra bank transfer. Intra Bank money Transfer service is usually free. For example, if you are a Firstbank account holder; you can transfer money from your first bank account to another first bank account using an ATM machine. This kind of transaction attracts no charge.
7. Inter Bank transfer
You can also transfer money from your bank account to a different bank account using an ATM machine. This kind of fund transfer known interbank transfer.
Bank charges may be applied in this kind fund transfer.
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Send Money to A family members, relatives or friends
With ATM Machine, you can send money to your family members, relatives or friends. The procedure for sending money to your family member, relative or friend is sometimes found beside the ATM Machine terminals.
It is very easy and simple. Any average reader who can read words from a screen can do it.
Account Balance Enquiry can be done using an ATM machine. This is for all Account (both savings and current) holders’ nationwide. Though it is relatively simpler these days, by dialling a simple USSD code on your mobile phone registered on your account, your account balance will be sent to you.
10. Check account number
You can also inquire about your bank account number using ATM Machine. If you forget your bank account number and you are in dare need of it, visit any ATM terminal near you.
However, just like dialling a code on phone to receive your account balance, you can also dial a code to receive your bank account number on your phone from your bank.
11. Updating Account details
ATM can be used to update bank account details such as phone number and email address. For example, if you change your phone number, you will stop receiving OTP and bank alert.
What that implies is that whatever that happen to account you will not know. You can quickly update or change the phone number registered on your account by visiting your bank’s ATM.
12. Bill Payment
One important use of ATM Machine which people don’t know is the use of an ATM to make Bill Payment. You can pay for utility bills like Electricity bill, DSTV & HITV subscription fees and GSM Postpaid bills using the ATM machine.
With quick teller option on ATM machines, you can do more than this. To use ATM to make utility bills payment, after insertion of your ATM card on ATM machine select Quickteller option and follow the instructions on the screen.
13. Airlines Ticket Payment
You can make payment for pre-booking of Aero Air Tickets and other Airlines using ATM machine. In a situation whereby you are choked up with time for boarding air ticket from Air travellers’ agents, you can simply pre-book an airline through an ATM machine close to you.
14. Card-based cash deposit
You can carry out a card-based cash deposit with your Verve or Naira MasterCard card. However, you can only deposit into the account(s) link to your debit card. It is not all ATM machines that serve this purpose.
15. Cardless cash deposit
In cardless cash deposit, you can deposit cash into account without the use of a debit card. Again, it is not all ATM machines that serve this purpose.
Firstbank ATM machine is an example of an ATM machine that can be used to perform a cardless cash deposit transaction.
Conclusion
Having you aware of all these uses of ATM machine I have explained above? Be sincere, I want to hear from you now. If you have a question you can use the comment box below. All questions and comments should be related to the topic, USES OF ATM MACHINE.
what if the ATM pin number is gotten by the thief
How? What do you mean?
It’s an unusual privilege to read quality articles on Internet. Your article has the qualities of great professionally written content that’s unique, original and interesting. Thanks for sharing such a nice and great content.
I appreciate you explaining all of these many benefits that come from using an ATM machine, especially since I didn’t realize that you could do transfers using one. It’s important for business owners to understand how an ATM machine could attract more customers to their business. Plus, it not only attracts customers, but it keeps them in your business a bit longer which can be useful.
Thank you, Bernard Clyde for your contributions.
Hi
It is simply amazing what we can all do with our atm machines even payment Dstv is even among make sense
I hardly ever use ATMS because I prefer to use credit card over cash. But now I know that there are many other uses for ATMS besides the traditional ones. I’ll have to see if my bank does airline payments! Thanks for an interesting read!
Olga,
you can also pay for airline ticket with your bank ATM card. So, you have a lot to do with your bank ATM card.