MetaChat - Bank machine or ATM?

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11 June 2008

Bank machine or ATM? I just got a funny look because I called it the bank machine. Am I out of it? What do all you cool kids call it?

post by: JanetLand at: 08:39 | 42 comments

I call it a "cash machine." I hate hate hate it when I hear ATM machine, especially when it's in conjunction with PIN number.

posted by mrmoonpie 11 June | 08:46

9 times out of 10 I call it the goddamn sonofabitch because I'm out of town and have to put up with highway robbery for using the wrong flavor of machine.

posted by Wolfdog 11 June | 08:51

I use "ATM," "cash machine," and "cash station" (that's a Chicago thing, as far as I know) interchangeably. I've heard, and probably used, "bank machine" as well. So, no, you're not out of it.

posted by smich 11 June | 08:52

I call it a "money machine" because I think that makes it sound magical.

posted by gaspode 11 June | 08:55

90% "bank machine," about 9% "ATM," and every once in a while "Tillie," the name of the first ATMs here in Atlanta when I was a kid.

posted by BoringPostcards 11 June | 09:01

Oh, yeah, I remember when they gave them names! Bank of Virginia had one called "Ginny."

posted by JanetLand 11 June | 09:04

In Euroland it is often "cashpoint". I predict the "machine" part will become superfluous - eventually we'll just call it the bank.

*jumps into horseless carriage, turns on wireless radio, drives off to moving picture theatre*

posted by Meatbomb 11 June | 09:13

The magical hole in the wall, or ATM (ATM machine if I'm around someone I know it will annoy hehe mrmoonpie).

posted by goo 11 June | 09:15

It's a Wisconsin thing, but I call them TYME (pronounced Time) machines.

posted by drezdn 11 June | 09:16

Cash Machine. But then, I'm British, and we all call it a Cash Machine.
Anyway - Here's a song.

Plus, and this is true - I think that I've invented a new way of stealing money from Cash machines, and I really want to try it out. I'm more interested in the exploit than the money. I'll tell the bank if my cunning hack works.

The only problem is that I'm scared of trying it in case I get sent to Jail. I really don't want to go to Jail, but I can see me writing a letter to the bank explaining the exploit & them sending me big men in blue uniforms.

So, whaddaya reckon... Do I just try it & see what happens, or should I be more sensible.

posted by seanyboy 11 June | 09:19

I already just call it the bank. I'd like to think that's a holdover from when most ATMs were in front of banks, but, really, it might just be that I'm lazy.

And seanyboy, is this your plan?

Go to an ATM, then cause a traffic jam to the area. Wait for someone to take money from the ATM, then kill him or her. Make sure to block any nearby roads so the ambulance cannot get to the murdered victim. Take the money they dropped on the ground. Then, run a short distance away, and go back. The money should have respawned on the ground. You can repeat this as many times as desired. You can also kill more people taking their money from the ATM to increase the amount of money that respawns.

Because if so, somebody on a Grand Theft Auto IV forum beat you to it.

posted by box 11 June | 09:28

I still forget sometimes and call them MAC machines but usually call them ATMs.

posted by octothorpe 11 June | 09:30

Cash machine (UK). Never heard anyone call it an ATM here, though I am vaguely aware of the term. I might also say cashpoint, not sure.

posted by altolinguistic 11 June | 09:31

The devil's handywork.

posted by tr33hggr 11 June | 09:38

Bank machine. Everyone I know calls it that.

posted by mygothlaundry 11 June | 09:40

I say "ATM," but "bank machine" sounds perfectly fine to me.

I think the Italian "Bancomat" is my favorite, though. It's like a laundromat! For a bank! Or something!

posted by occhiblu 11 June | 09:43

"money machine"

posted by jessamyn 11 June | 09:43

ATM mostly.

posted by arse_hat 11 June | 09:46

"Prez dispenser"

posted by Hellbient 11 June | 09:50

ATM....but I guess the people who created the Dictionary of American Regional English--which STILL isn't finished!--will have to add these.

posted by brujita 11 June | 10:00

"Outdoor Printing Press"

posted by Smart Dalek 11 June | 10:05

Oh, and let's not forget "Card & Receipt Swallower".

posted by Smart Dalek 11 June | 10:06

Fluffy.

posted by weretable and the undead chairs 11 June | 10:09

weretable!

posted by box 11 June | 10:13

Damn you Box!!!

posted by seanyboy 11 June | 10:31

"Prez dispenser"
posted by Hellbient

FTW!!!

posted by BoringPostcards 11 June | 10:39

I call it an ATM. I have never had an ATM card. Ever. Husband doesn't have one either. Kooky. We're in a cash business so we don't need to access cash from the machine.

posted by LoriFLA 11 June | 10:43

Sometimes I slip and call them "Pulse Machines" still, but I call them ATMs, cash machines, and bank machines pretty interchangeably, but then, I am old.

posted by crush-onastick 11 June | 10:55

ATM here. Although I don't use them because I can never remember what my PIN is. Ever.

posted by sperose 11 June | 10:57

I don't actually use ATMs very often these days, maybe once a month. 99% of my transactions are via cards instead of cash and I often forget to have any on me. I was in a bar last week and didn't realize that it didn't take cards until after the bartender had poured my draft. I had a moment's panic before opened my wallet and found that I did actually have the cash to pay for a $2.50 beer + tip.

posted by octothorpe 11 June | 11:00

I use either "teller machine", or "money store"...

posted by mightshould 11 June | 11:04

I say "ATM" because my work involves retail banking so I've got used to the jargon. I hate "PIN number" too.

posted by essexjan 11 June | 11:40

I say ATM in English or "geldautomat" in German. Calling it a "cash machine" would feel like I was doing a disservice to the fine people who enable us to do more with our automated teller machines than merely deposit or withdraw cash.

posted by cmonkey 11 June | 11:51

I agree with altolinguistic. I do actually use the phrase "cashpoint" more than "cash machine"

posted by seanyboy 11 June | 11:53

Currencilliator

posted by plinth 11 June | 13:02

I was gonna pipe in with MAC machines too, which is what they were when I first started using them and they dispensed $5 bills. But I call 'em the ATM or bank machine now.

posted by Miko 11 June | 13:40

Are the ATMs on the outside of buildings where you are or inside some kind of booth or in the bank vestibule? Where I live in Pittsburgh, they are all just hanging on the outside of the bank buildings but other places that I've been they all seem to be inside a big phone booth kind of thing that you need to swipe your card to enter. I'm talking about the full sized, full service machines here, not the little ones in bars and 7/11s.

posted by octothorpe 11 June | 14:00

Auntie Em!

posted by deborah 11 June | 16:12

Bank-in-the-box.

Or ATM.

"Cashpoint" sounds to me like a mysterious place that the hero stumbles upon in the deep dark forest.

posted by BitterOldPunk 11 June | 17:24

Money machine. Or, if I'm feeling frivolous, the bucks box.

posted by tangerine 11 June | 18:58

ATM usually, but I used to call it a cashpoint or keycard machine (a very clumsy one there). "Hole in the wall" fell out of favour, but I'm not sure why. When on holiday we call it the bankomat regardless of local usage (unless talking to an actual local) and given that I rarely talk about the things unless on holiday, that's probably the one I use most often. Like occhiblu I like the way it sounds like laundromat.

All this may have to change though, having heard Hellbient's genius term. (Except it really only works for greenbacks).

posted by GeckoDundee 11 June | 19:36

Thirding MAC. And you 'tap' it. As in, "Can we stop at the WaWa on the way? I've gotta tap MAC."

But I'm totally stealing Hellbient's term.

posted by jrossi4r 11 June | 20:23

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