Today, ATMs let you carry out almost every transaction you could do at a bank branch, more easily and quickly.
But as with any electronic device, ATMs can also run into problems. For example, an ATM may suddenly shut down, display a no-cash warning, swallow cash being withdrawn or deposited, or swallow your bank card.
If, for any reason, the ATM swallows your card, the card is dropped into a compartment inside the machine reserved for retained cards, where it stays until bank staff open the ATM.
So why does an ATM swallow a card?
There can be many reasons an ATM retains a card:
- If the bank has placed a block on the account and this causes the ATM to retain the card, the purpose is to get the customer to come into the branch.
- If your bank card is lost or stolen, you should call your bank's call center and close the card with Lost/Stolen status. In such cases, if someone then tries to use the closed card, the ATM will retain it.
- The ATM may swallow your card due to internal software, electrical, or hardware faults.
- It is important to insert the card correctly into the card slot. If you insert it in a way that strains the ATM's card reader, it can jam. In that case the ATM retains the card to prevent it from being damaged.
- After completing a transaction at an ATM, you must take your card within a certain time. For transactions like cash withdrawals, you are given a window of time to take back your card. If the card is not taken within that time, the ATM automatically retains it to prevent damage or theft. To avoid this, take your card as soon as you withdraw your cash.
So what should I do if the ATM swallows my card?
You can go to the nearest bank branch to the ATM and get help from staff there. A staff member will open the ATM and, after performing the necessary checks, hand your card back to you.