ATM Cards Redundant?

In Scandinavia, they've been using mobile pay for some time now; no need to go to ATM at all.
https://scandinaviantraveler.com/en/lifestyle/cash-is-dead-mobile-payments-on-the-rise

On the contrary, Bruce, most anything you see in the USA will have migrated FROM Europe. They are light years ahead of us in many ways.

Er yes,,,the migrating so far has not been west to east.

Chip and pin cards ,,,arent you guys just getting them now ?

Europe in general has much more stringent privacy controls and fraud protections. On the other hand, more than a few countries (mostly southern Europe) still operate largely on cash.

Technology always moves along - cash, traveler's checks, debit cards, chip and pin, Apple pay, ???? Who knows - but I know we may consider chip and pin very old technology ten years from now. But there will always be ways for us to spend money be it paper, plastic, or bit coin.

So exactly how do you withdraw cash from an ATM with a Smartphone?

This article provides a bit more information on how the new system would work.....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/01/26/chase-rolling-out-atms-give-cash-via-phone/79374222/

According to the article, "This is not replacing debit cards, just giving customers another convenient option if they do not have their debit card with them". I imagine that ATM's will have to retain the ability to accept cards, as not everyone uses a smartphone with NFC capability. I know some people that still use basic flip phones, and those of us using older phones (such as the iPhone 4S) don't have NFC capability either.

Ken, my husband and I fall into the dinosaur category. We're both using old, pay-as-you-go flip phones that do the trick and save us a bundle. We'll probably have to give them up at some point but so far, so good.

Interestingly, we both were recently sent chip-and-pin credit/debit cards but we've yet to use them at a retailer which has required a pin (or under a certain amount, anyway). I thought that was the whole point!

Nope, the technology certainly isn't "new" in Europe.

The smartphone ATM withdrawal plans currently will only allow you to withdraw cash at your own bank's ATM. No withdrawal of cash from a Bank of America ATM if you have a Chase account. But things could expand beyond that. After all, there is no reason why Apple Pay could not be made to work at an ATM. Just add the right device to read the NFC chip in your iPhone at the ATM and enhance the Apple Pay service to include ATM transactions, and there you are.

I guess I am just getting to be too old, but I don't see a benefit to this. I prefer having to use a debit card and PIN to get cash.

I guess I am just getting to be too old, but I don't see a benefit to
this.

I've gone mostly cashless in my life. I use plastic/Apple Pay to purchase most everything at home and during my travels. I can go weeks with just a ten dollar bill in my wallet untouched. When I do need cash, I just get cash back at the supermarket. I haven't been inside my branch bank or an ATM in a couple of years.

Speaking specifically for Italy, we ran into quite a number of restaurants, shops and bars which did not accept credit cards at all or not for small purchases. Even some of the smaller hotels and B&Bs can be cash-only: we've stayed in one of those.

We're all different but it didn't bother us nor did not having our card number out there on just anyone and everyone's system.

I have no use for a phone, smart or otherwise, in Europe, so why carry one when I can carry just a card. Like Kathy noted for Italy, German speaking areas, where I do most of my traveling, tend to eschew plastic. Those that take credit cards are generally the more expensive place; I don't stay there anyway.

So, the technology to withdraw cash from an ATM in Europe is available...how do I take advantage of it?

With an ATM card. Insert, punch and retrieve $$$.

Edit: So, the technology to withdraw cash from an ATM in Europe using a smartphone is available...how do I take advantage of it?

The only place I've used the chip mechanism that I'm aware of so far in the U.S. is at Trader Joe's. In Canada last year I used a portable card reader at a restaurant and felt like a fool. My friend who lives in QC had to walk me through the process. I tried to insert via chip at another store recently when it looked like the pad was set up for it--forget which store--and was told by the clerk to take the card out and swipe it with the strip. So things are all over the board right now.

Gee, but don't you miss the sound of the clunkmeister? ;) Found an old carbon receipt when cleaning out recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB81UgdqgT0

Bruce,

I do not believe any European ATM is currently using the smartphone technique for withdrawals. If any are or will be any time soon, it will require you to have an account at that bank. This is unfortunately not very easy for people to achieve unless they reside in that part of the world. I would just continue taking my ATM card with me for the near future and I am sure when someone (Apple maybe or Samsung) gets their devices working with ATMs there will be major and unmissable headlines.

I doubt that the ability to withdraw money at ATM's using a smart phone will be available for travellers for awhile. This is a new concept and at first they will probably limit this to only residents of that country. The network to enable smart phone payments is still being established, and at this point there isn't one consistent standard. As I understand it, Apple and Android both have their own E-Pay systems, so there's no universal standard at this time. As most of the newer phones are equipped with NFC transceivers, this will likely be more popular once a standard is worked out.