It sucks when ATMs can only dispense $20 dollar bills! What's the point?

Answer 1

I guess the point would be to distribute cash to account holders, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without employing a human to do the work.

That's pretty much standard, and has been standard, since the advent of ATM's.

If it bothers you, look around for another bank that distributes smaller bills. I know my ATM can give me tens, and anyone can use it...you don't even need to change your account, as long as you know where the right machines are.

Answer 2

Unfortunately it’s a matter of saving money. Not your money, of course. The point of having a machine to dispense cash is to avoid having to pay a live human bank teller to do it. Stocking the machine with hundreds and fifties would be impractical, since most merchants still balk at accepting large bills. But if enough customers withdraw $100 or more at a time, fives and tens wouldn’t last very long, and bank personnel would have to refill the machine more frequently. Twenty dollar bills, seem to be just right.

Also more recently ATM's charge a fee of about $2. If you only had intentions to take out only $10, would you want to pay a 20% fee to take your own money out. But if you took out the $20 that they dispense , at least it's only a 10% fee.

Answer 3

I remember (a long time ago) when most ATM's used to be able to dispense $5, $10, or $20 bills. Nowadays, you can find some that do dispense $10 bills.

Answer 4

Because that's the most common denominator. (If someone takes out $20 or $200, the most common denominator is the $20) There are a few ATMs that dispense other denominations. Wachovia and M&T Bank in the Northeast are two of them - you can even get coin from some of them.

Answer 5

heres a suggestion you could go to any major supermarket or drug store chain
say buy something like gum or even a bottle of soda
then you use your ATM card and ask them for cash back..
sometimes that way you even avoid the ATM fees ..

Answer 6

quicker and cheeper and less time spent when the machine's funds must be counted ans controlled. Also less chance of eror in receiving the wrong amount of money.

Answer 7

I kow what you mean. they should at least give the options of 10's or 100's

Answer 8

theres one around the corner from me that gives you 5s 10s too