The end of plastic cards nears: Over 70,000 ATMs will soon support Touch ID withdrawals

Following Bank of America’s announcement that customers could withdraw cash from ATMs using Apple Pay, FIS and Payment Alliance International have today announced a new partnership that will allow users to perform cardless withdrawals using Touch ID, proving that the end of plastic cards is fast approaching.

The feature will be coming to over 70,000 ATMs, including freestanding ATMs in retail stores, malls, restaurants, and more. While the service isn’t using Apple Pay, it allows users to withdraw cashing using their iPhone and Touch ID.

FIS Cardless Cash uses QR codes combined with an app on iOS to allow users to withdraw money from ATMs without using their physical card. As a security measure, the app will require Touch ID input before the process is complete. This will be the case for all transactions. FIS says that transactions should take less than 10 seconds and that users will receive a digital receipt on their smartphone.

FIS Cardless Cash protects consumers by reducing risk of card skimming and shoulder surfing, both of which are on the rise at ATMs, according to industry data. By leveraging FIS Mobile Banking with Touch ID, customers securely access their funds and authorize the amount they want without inserting a plastic card into an ATM. The mobile banking app acts as a remote control for the ATM, providing unparalleled privacy and security for consumers. Customers using FIS Cardless Cash can complete their withdrawals in 10 seconds and get an electronic receipt on their smartphone.

Payment Alliance International is the “nation’s largest” provider or private ATMs, which essentially means those ATMs that are not owned and operated by a bank. The partnership with FIS to launch Cardless Cash will see the phone-to-ATM gain mainstream adoption.

As we head into a world without plastic cards, a variety of security benefits emerge. As FIS points out, using a smartphone to withdraw cash (and make purchases at retail locations using Apple Pay) reduces the risk of card skimming and shoulder surfing. With services like Apple Pay and Android Pay coupled with cardless ATM withdrawals, the need to carry cards is quickly going away.

There are also, of course, a level of convenience that comes with using smartphones. As we’ve written in the past, Apple Pay can save the day in those cases where you forget your wallet.

Bank of America announced last month that it is bringing Apple Pay ATM withdrawals to its ATMs across the country. While the FIS Cardless Cash solution doesn’t use Apple Pay, it will help foster the growth of cardless transactions. The full press release concerning the FIS and Payment Alliance International is below:

FIS and Payment Alliance International Bring Cardless Cash to Consumers at Retail Locations

• FIS and Payment Alliance International (PAI) have partnered to bring FIS Cardless Cash to thousands of ATMs nationwide, reducing risk of card skimming in ATM transactions.
• Mobile banking users will be able to use FIS Cardless Cash on participating PAI ATMs in over 70,000 stores, gas stations, restaurants and shopping malls across the United States.
• NYCE is the first national payment network to support FIS Cardless Cash as the ecosystem expands to more ATMs and networks.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 15, 2016 – FIS Cardless Cash®, the market-leading mobile solution that avoids using a plastic card at the ATM to withdraw funds, will expand across the United States thanks to a new partnership between FIS™ (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial services technology, and Payment Alliance International (PAI), the nation’s largest, privately-held provider of ATM processing and maintenance services, ATM equipment sales and support.The partnership connects FIS Cardless Cash with PAI and brings mobile access to ATMs located at many of the nation’s largest retailers, gas stations, convenience stores and more. The deal will ultimately expand to 70,000 ATMs in the PAI ATM network.“Our partnership with PAI extends FIS’ leadership to the largest Cardless Cash ecosystem, and will benefit both banks and their customers,” said Anthony Jabbour, chief operating officer, Banking & Payments, FIS. “Our Cardless Cash product combines innovation and efficiency with consumer convenience and security. For banks, it’s a new revenue source and this widespread network should facilitate customer adoption.”FIS Cardless Cash protects consumers by reducing risk of card skimming and shoulder surfing, both of which are on the rise at ATMs, according to industry data. By leveraging FIS Mobile Banking with TouchID, customers securely access their funds and authorize the amount they want without inserting a plastic card into an ATM. The mobile banking app acts as a remote control for the ATM, providing unparalleled privacy and security for consumers. Customers using FIS Cardless Cash can complete their withdrawals in 10 seconds and get an electronic receipt on their smartphone.“Our clients are always looking for ways to improve their offerings, drive more revenue and surpass customers’ expectations,” said John J. Leehy, III, president and chief executive officer of Payment Alliance International. “This partnership brings the latest in transaction security to the PAI ATM network, while enhancing customer convenience and improving their overall ATM experience.”“Adding retail ATM locations to our Cardless Cash ecosystem brings the best in convenient access to customers,” said Douglas Brown, SVP and GM of FIS Mobile. “We want to make mobile-centric access to cash a ubiquitous experience.”This agreement makes NYCE the first national payment network to support mobile phone-to-ATM transactions. FIS Cardless Cash is an interoperable platform for banks, ATM operators and networks to provide consumers with access to their money anywhere they want it. Launched in Jan. 2015, 34 banks are active on it, in multiple cities, and have successfully processed millions of dollars in cardless ATM transactions since launch.About FIS FIS is a global leader in financial services technology, with a focus on retail and institutional banking, payments, asset and wealth management, risk and compliance, consulting, and outsourcing solutions. Through the depth and breadth of our solutions portfolio, global capabilities and domain expertise, FIS serves more than 20,000 clients in over 130 countries. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., FIS employs more than 55,000 people worldwide and holds leadership positions in payment processing, financial software and banking solutions. Providing software, services and outsourcing of the technology that empowers the financial world, FIS is a Fortune 500 company and is a member of Standard & Poor’s 500® Index. For more information about FIS, visit www.fisglobal.com.Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/FIStoday) and Twitter (@FISGlobal).About Payment Alliance International  Payment Alliance International (PAI) is the nation’s largest privately-held provider of ATMs and provides processing and maintenance services, ATM equipment sales and support, as well as ATM branding programs. PAI also offers comprehensive payment and small business solutions including credit, debit and prepaid card acceptance services in retail locations, online or on-the-go using mobile devices…all designed to maximize customer success and make business easy. Payment Alliance International is based in Louisville, Ky. For more information, please visit www.GoPAI.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/paymentalliance) and Twitter (@paymentalliance).Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain statements, estimates or projections that constitute “forward-looking statements” pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from FIS’ historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, developmental and conversion delays or disruptions inherent with new software products and technology, and risks of reduction in revenue from the elimination of existing and potential customers due to consolidation in or new laws or regulations affecting the banking, retail and financial services industries, changes in the growth rates of the markets for our solutions, and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent SEC filings. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. FIS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.