Understanding the Differences Between a Personal Teller Machine and ATM

Author: Source Technologies

ATM’s: The Original Self-Service Kiosk Experience

The first ATM was installed in 1967 at Barclay’s Bank in London, and introduced a new level of convenience to banking that had not been done before it. However, since this ground-breaking advancement, self-service banking technology has remained largely the same. For more than 40 years, the ATM has remained separate from the bank branch experience with users learning where to find and use this self-service amenity as an alternative to an in-person bank teller.

Enter “The iPhone Effect” to Redefine Self-Service Kiosks

With smartphones pervading our lives over the last decade, consumers have become increasingly entitled to the convenience of technology. Simple, connected and at finger-tip length has defined much of our technology demands, and banking is not an exception. Many financial institutions, recognizing this shift, have invested in developing online banking applications to meet these evolved needs of their customers. However, until now, the brick-and-mortar retail banking locations remain unchanged, slow to adopt evolving self-service kiosk technology or digital banking experiences.

Banks understand the physical branch is critical in establishing relationships with new account holders, as well as addressing existing account holders’ financial decisions. Because of this, many banks are adopting the concept of the "Branch of the Future" as a way to implement new, state-of-the-art technology and branch design to maximize both the staff and a smaller space. Self-service kiosks are a critical component, different from ATMs, by allowing customers to manage their own transactions in a digital experience from within the branch.

A Self-Service Kiosk Solution: The Personal Teller Machine

While self-service kiosks will likely not replace ATMs, they represent a new way to provide a digital experience to customers, while improving customer satisfaction, within the branch.

At Source Technologies, we developed the Personal Teller Machine, a self-service kiosk specifically designed for bank branches to automate in-branch transactions. It provides customers with an advanced digital banking experience they are looking for, offering much more functionality than ATMs, while decreasing expenses.

What is the Difference Between a Personal Teller Machine and ATM?

  • The Personal Teller Machine offers almost every transaction option available at the teller line while the ATM only offers the ability to make a withdrawal or deposit.
  • The Personal Teller Machine provides flexibility in cash withdrawal while the ATMs allow for single denomination only.
  • Personal Teller Machines are self-service kiosks that allow a customer to request and print an official check, which is unheard of when using an ATM.
  • Source Technologies’ Personal Teller Machines are easy to place, occupying a single square foot of retail space while  ATMs are large and typically require some construction to implement.

Contact Source Technologies to learn more about the benefits of making the switch to self-service kiosks in the banking industry.