Half a century since the first ATM

It's been exactly 50 years since the invention of the ATM, the first usage of which took place in London.

As BBC reports, the first cash machine was unveiled in June 1967 in Enfield, north London.

Renowned comedy actor Reg Varney was the first person to take the money from the dispenser. Clients were able to take up to ten one-pound banknotes, but only if they had a special voucher issued by the bank.

The cards as we use them today appeared in the 1970s. There are close to three million ATMs in the world today. The latest types enable taking money from the ATM using a mobile phone.

ATM

ATMs

first ATM in the world

Enfield

London

Reg Varney