Should I say "ATM" or "cashpoint" in the UK?
Source: I'm in my early thirties and have lived my whole life in South East England.
I would personally use the term "cash machine" (or the abbreviated version "machine", see further comments below). As to the other suggested terms:
ATM - I fully recognise this, and might even use it occasionally. This is probably due to the influence of the large amount of US television I watch.
Cashpoint - I don't recognise this term. On the UK television programme "Dragon's Den" they have a new dragon who is described as "The Cashpoint Queen" from her previous "cashpoint" business. Neither my wife (same age and location history as myself) or I was sure what it meant, but we decided it probably meant "cash machine".
Cash dispenser - Isn't this part of a self-checkout at a supermarket? The bit that gives you your change? That's my first instinct anyway, but in context it would probably be clear what it meant.
Hole-in-the-wall - I recognise this from my youth, so probably mid 90s (when I could first get money out of one) up until early 2000s? I don't hear it currently though. Though that could be as I moved in the early 2000s from East Kent to Hampshire, and have since moved to Surrey and commute into London.
Machine - I use this, as an abbreviation of "cash machine", especially if I'm also using "cash" elsewhere in the sentence. I might typically say to the wife, "I'm getting some cash out of the machine later; do you want any?".
The following article from The Telegraph suggests that cash machine is the more common expression in the UK.
ATM, automatic or automated teller machine, is probably the most commonly used description here. Graham Mott of LINK says: “ATM is American in origin as they use the term “Teller” when we would use “Cashier”. Some of the manufacturers of such machines are international and the term has come over to us with them. The word "Teller" though comes from old English. A bank teller being a person who counts the money.
The first such machines were not as we know cash dispensers today. The card would be kept by the machine and returned to the customer days later. Or a voucher or token would be used.
Cashpoint:
- Lloyds Bank had the first computerised machine on our high streets performing transactions similar to those we know today. It used a magnetic card that was returned at once at the end of the transaction. The word ‘Cashpoint’ itself was introduced in 1972 by Lloyds Bank and registered as a trademark in October 1986. Although ‘Cashpoint’ would be a fitting way to describe such machines generically, it is a trade name that has seeped into the English language for more general use. The term remains within the bank’s intellectual property portfolio.
Hole in the wall:
- A Barclays press release dated February 3 2006 reported “…Gone will be that American acronym the ATM (Automated Teller Machine) to be replaced by the more colloquial ‘Hole in the Wall’. 'Hole in the Wall' is a Barclays registered trademark but it didn’t quite hit the right buttons possibly because some pubs use the name too. Oddly the marketing director in the press release said at the time, “...after all I don’t know anyone in Manchester who goes to an ATM to get money out, but I know a fair few who pop off to the Hole in the Wall….”
Cash terminal:
- This seems to be going off the radar a bit.
Cash machine:
- This is a frequently used term in Britain but still may conjure up the image of other machines. For instance those for changing coins. Even so it seems a good name option.
Also from the site British money:
- There are plenty of cash machines (also known as cashpoints or ATMs) dotted around London. Most accept international cards.....Some other systems are also recognised, but it's a good idea to check with your bank or card company before you travel.