MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica–With news that new ATMs had been installed at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, the question of where are some of the world’s other remote or unique locations for ATMs has been explored, and the answers are pretty fascinating.
In the case of McMurdo Station, ATMs have been on-site since 1998 when the first machines were installed by Wells Fargo. The research station has a fluctuating population that ranges from fewer than 200 residents during the winter months to up to 1,100 individuals during the summer (October through February). The two machines are the closest banking facilities for thousands of miles and the only two machines on the continent, Diebold Nixdorf noted in announcing the installation.
As for why it needs two ATMs, Diebold Nixdorf said one ATM is actively in use, while the second serves as a backup for spare parts. The company said the machines are connected to the DN AllConnect Data Engine, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor their performance. The ATM can be maintained by trained staff at NSF McMurdo Station, or the Diebold Nixdorf service team can remotely guide them through the repair process, the company added.
In looking around the world at other remote ATMs, PYMNTS and LoveMoney.com said their research has found:
Mount Everest Base Camp: High Altitude Banking
At an altitude of 17,600 feet), the Mount Everest Base Camp there is an ATM that is not a permanent fixture and is often set up seasonally, PYMNTS reported. The machine serves climbers and trekkers who need cash for local transactions.
The Amazon Rainforest
In some parts of the Amazon rain forest, particularly in Brazil and Peru, ATMs can be found in small villages and towns, PYMNTS stated.
“These machines are vital for local communities, providing access to cash in areas where digital payment options might be limited,” the report notes. “The presence of ATMs here demonstrates how banking services can reach even the most remote communities.”
Nagqu, China: The Highest ATM
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Nagqu is home to one of the highest ATMs in the world. This region is very remote, with limited infrastructure, making the presence of an ATM a notable example of banking accessibility in extreme environments, according to LoveMoney.com
The Lowest ATM
For reasons that aren’t really clear, the lowest ATM in the world can be found just 15 inches off the ground in a Sainsbury’s supermarket in the English city of Nottingham. Users must crouch to use the machine. The supermarket said the machine is so low because it’s “on a hill.”
Thousand Islands, Indonesia: Floating ATM
In the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) off the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia, there’s a floating ATM, LoveMoney.com reported.
“This unique ATM serves the local community and tourists on the islands, demonstrating how banking services can adapt to isolated marine environments,” the report said.
Navy FCU also operates ATMs on some large warships.
Longyearbyen, Norway: The Most Northerly ATM
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, boasts the most northerly ATM, according to LoveMoney.com.
“This location is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, with limited access to mainland Norway, making the ATM a vital service for residents and visitors,” LoveMoney.com stated. “Longyearbyen is the nearest settlement to the North Pole in the world (though there are a couple of research facilities slightly further north), and is a popular destination with tourists who want to explore the Arctic Circle island of Svalbard. There is only one ATM in the town, and it caters to the 2,100 residents plus the 100,000 tourists that land on Longyearbyen each year. As in McMurdo station, local staff are trained to repair the machine, as service technicians would have to be flown in otherwise and there are only three weekly flights to the mainland.”
The Cockney ATM, Hackney, London
While many if not most ATMs offer a language option, a few ATMs in Hackney, London allow users to choose “Cockney Rhyming Slang” as an option.
“Cockney Rhyming Slang is a type of dialect spoken in jest by some of the residents of London’s East End,” LoveMoney.com reported. “It’s based on substitutions and rhymes and was invented by the market traders and street hawkers of the 1840s. If you need a £10 note, you’ll have to ask for a ‘speckled hen’ (ten) from your ‘cab rank’ (bank). It’s all sixes and sevens, mate.”
