Most ATMs do not have tap to pay yet, but the technology is spreading
Tap to pay at ATMs is still uncommon in the United States. The vast majority of ATMs require you to insert your card into a slot and enter your PIN on a keypad. However, some newer machines — particularly those installed by major banks in the last few years — do accept contactless payments through your phone or contactless card. The rollout is uneven: you might find tap-enabled ATMs at one bank branch and traditional machines at another location just blocks away.
Whether an ATM accepts tap to pay depends on when it was made and which bank owns it. Machines built before 2020 almost never have the technology. Newer machines from Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo have begun adding it, but adoption is still in early stages. Regional banks and credit unions are slower to upgrade.
Key Takeaways
- Tap to pay at ATMs works through NFC (near-field communication) technology, the same wireless standard used for contactless credit cards and digital wallets.
- You can use tap to pay at an ATM only if both the machine itself has the technology and your bank supports it — having a contactless card or phone wallet is not enough.
- Most ATMs in the United States still require card insertion and a PIN, so you should not assume a machine has tap capability before you arrive.
- ATMs with tap to pay still require you to enter your PIN on the keypad after tapping, just as you would with a traditional card insertion.
How tap to pay works at an ATM
When an ATM has tap to pay, the process is similar to tapping your phone or card at a store checkout. You hold your contactless card or phone wallet near the sensor on the machine — usually marked with a contactless symbol (four curved lines). The ATM reads your card information wirelessly and asks you to enter your PIN on the keypad, just as it would if you had inserted the card physically.
The main difference is convenience: you do not have to find the card slot or worry about the machine reading the magnetic stripe. For people with arthritis, vision problems, or other physical limitations, tap to pay can make the transaction easier. For everyone else, the time saved is minimal — a few seconds at most.
The security is the same as a traditional ATM withdrawal. The machine still requires your PIN, which means someone who steals your phone or card cannot withdraw money without knowing your code. The wireless connection is encrypted, so the data sent between your card and the machine is protected.
Which banks and ATM networks have tap to pay
Chase has rolled out tap to pay on many of its ATMs, particularly in urban areas and at newer branch locations. Bank of America has also begun adding the technology to its machines. Wells Fargo is testing it in select markets. However, these rollouts are incomplete — you may find tap-enabled machines at one Chase branch and traditional machines at another.
ATM networks like Allpoint and MoneyPass, which operate independent ATMs in convenience stores and other locations, have started adding tap capability to some machines. However, the majority of their fleet still does not have it. Regional banks and credit unions are generally behind on this upgrade, so if your bank is smaller or local, you are unlikely to find tap to pay at their ATMs yet.
The best way to know whether a specific ATM has tap to pay is to look for the contactless symbol on the machine itself — four curved lines that look like a WiFi icon. If you do not see that symbol, the machine does not have the technology.
What you need to use tap to pay at an ATM
You need three things: a contactless card or phone wallet, an ATM that has tap to pay, and an account at a bank that supports the feature. Having a contactless card or Apple Pay is not enough by itself — the ATM must have the technology, and your bank must have enabled it for ATM withdrawals.
Most major credit cards and debit cards issued in the last few years are contactless by default. If you have a newer card from Chase, Bank of America, or another large bank, it almost certainly has the capability. You can check by looking for the contactless symbol on your card. If you have an older card without the symbol, you can request a replacement from your bank.
Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay all support contactless payments, but not all banks have enabled them for ATM withdrawals yet. Some banks restrict tap to pay at ATMs to physical contactless cards only. Before you rely on your phone wallet at an ATM, check with your bank to confirm it works.
Limitations and what still requires a traditional card
Even at ATMs with tap to pay, some transactions still require you to insert your card. If you need to deposit a check, transfer money between accounts, or change your PIN, you will have to use the card slot. Tap to pay is only for withdrawals and balance inquiries — the simplest transactions.
If your contactless card is damaged or your phone battery dies, you cannot use tap to pay. You would need to insert a physical card instead. This is why most people still carry a backup card even if they use their phone for everyday payments.
Tap to pay at ATMs also does not work if the machine is offline or if there is a problem with the wireless connection. In those cases, the ATM will prompt you to insert your card instead. This is rare, but it means you should always have your physical card with you when you go to an ATM.
Why ATMs are slow to adopt tap to pay
ATMs are expensive machines that banks expect to last 10 to 15 years. Replacing them with newer models that have tap to pay is a major capital investment, so banks upgrade gradually rather than all at once. A large bank might have thousands of ATMs, and retrofitting them all takes years.
There is also less demand for tap to pay at ATMs than there is at store checkouts. Most people withdraw cash only a few times a month, so the convenience gain is smaller. Banks prioritize upgrades based on usage and location — busy urban branches get new machines first, while quieter locations get them later or not at all.
Security concerns have also slowed adoption. Banks want to make sure the technology is reliable and that it does not create new vulnerabilities. Testing and rolling out a new feature across thousands of machines takes time.
How to find a tap-enabled ATM near you
The easiest way is to use your bank's ATM locator tool on their website or mobile app. Many banks now label which machines have tap to pay in their locator. If the locator does not show this information, call your bank's customer service line and ask which nearby ATMs support contactless withdrawals.
If you use an ATM network like Allpoint or MoneyPass, their apps and websites also show which machines have tap capability. However, this information is not always current — a machine may have been upgraded or removed since the last update. If you are in a hurry, it is safer to assume the machine does not have tap to pay unless you have confirmed it recently.
When you arrive at an ATM, look for the contactless symbol on the machine itself. If you see it, you can try tapping your card or phone. If you do not see the symbol, insert your card as usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone wallet to withdraw cash from any ATM?
Only if the ATM has tap to pay technology and your bank supports contactless withdrawals. Most ATMs do not have this yet. Check your bank's ATM locator or call customer service to find machines near you that accept tap payments.
Is tap to pay at an ATM less secure than inserting my card?
No. Both methods require your PIN, and both use encryption to protect your information. Tap to pay is just a different way to send your card details to the machine — the security level is the same.
What happens if I tap my card but the ATM does not have tap to pay?
Nothing. The machine will not respond to the tap. You will need to insert your card into the slot instead. There is no risk of damage or fraud from tapping a machine that does not support the feature.
Do I still need to enter my PIN if I use tap to pay?
Yes. Even with tap to pay, the ATM will ask you to enter your PIN on the keypad after you tap your card or phone. This is a security requirement — the PIN is what proves you are the cardholder.
Can I use a contactless credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM?
Only if the ATM has tap to pay and your credit card issuer supports ATM withdrawals. Most credit cards do allow cash advances at ATMs, but not all banks have enabled tap to pay for this feature yet. Check with your card issuer first.