You arrive at an ATM, insert your card, put in your request for the cash you want to receive, and take the money that pops out. That’s the way it’s supposed to work, but it may surprise you to learn that if you don’t grab your money fast enough, the bank will pull it back. All ATMs have a timeout feature — often 30 seconds — that will retract the cash and your card and the transaction will be cancelled. The timeout feature is a security measure to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing cash or cards left unattended. Not to worry — if you’re too slow on the draw, you can always contact your bank to get your card back.
Why ATMs Have a Timeout Feature
You arrive at an ATM, insert your card, put in your request for the cash you want to receive, and take the money that pops out. That’s the way it’s supposed to work, but it may surprise you to learn that if you don’t grab your money fast enough, the bank will pull it back. All ATMs have a timeout feature — often 30 seconds — that will retract the cash and your card and the transaction will be cancelled. The timeout feature is a security measure to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing cash or cards left unattended. Not to worry — if you’re too slow on the draw, you can always contact your bank to get your card back.