NCR ATM software ditches cards and PINs for mobiles and barcodes

NCR has introduced a card-less and PIN-less ATM withdrawal system that sees customers initiate transactions through their mobile phones and then scan 2D barcodes on the machines' screens.

Customers authenticate through their existing mobile banking application and 'pre-stage' the transaction via an embedded NCR cash withdrawal function. Once at their bank's ATM, they scan the 2D barcode on the home screen and the money is dispensed.

NCR says that by removing cards and PINs from the process, its new system offers a more secure approach to traditional ATM transactions. No consumer data is stored on the device or contained within the on-screen 2D barcode while the threat of card skimming is killed off.

With no additional hardware required, just a software upgrade, the vendor is also touting the system's simplicity and cheapness for banks. However, it has not named any customers and says it is "looking for partnership opportunities".

Jaivinder Gill, MD, NCR, India, says: "NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal will help financial institutions meet their customers' expectations in the mobile channel, and help them deliver a differentiated and faster converged-channel experience."

Related Companies

NCR Atleos

Channels

Retail banking Security Payments

Keywords

Cards Mobile & online banking Automated teller machines and network services

Comments: (4)

A Finextra member 11 June, 2012, 11:31

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Sounds like a complex process for consumers to go through. The big win appears to be counter skimming, not something that worries EMV based systems much these days. NCR are looking to create a solution "meeting their customers' expectations in the mobile channel, and helping them deliver a differentiated and faster converged-channel experience;" Regardless of whether such an "expectation in the mobile channel" actually exists, or if the consumer is actually looking for a "faster converged-channel experience"

I dont know too many people who are unhappy with current ATM services, things seem to be fine now.... However, I will get upset if i have to stand in a queue behind some geek interminably flashing his mobile screen at the ATM.

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Ketharaman Swaminathan - GTM360 Marketing Solutions - Pune 12 June, 2012, 13:50

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Until now, I thought mobile wallets were the height of convolutedness in using a mobile phone instead of a plastic card but this one by NCR beats that hollow by taking convolutedness to new heights. But, I won't be surprised if proves to be a big hit among the segment of population that is already exposed to smartphones but is not yet old enough to become eligible for credit / debit cards. In all likelihood, these pre-adult GenYers will never learn how unconvoluted it has been for people to use cards at ATMs during the previous 40-50 years. To them, ATM + Smartphone might be the most natural combination. I see some parallels between this and the choice of email - desktop (e.g. Outlook) versus webmail (e.g. GMail) - between GenXers and adult GenYers.

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A Finextra member 14 June, 2012, 08:07

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Sounds great. What I am unable to visualize is - how does the ATM gets information on how much amount needs to be dispensed? How is this data passed from mobile to ATM without NFC / other hardware?

I am sure I am missing something here. Would be great if someone can help.

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Ketharaman Swaminathan - GTM360 Marketing Solutions - Pune 14 June, 2012, 09:00

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Until someone from NCR weighs in authoritatively, let me take a guess: Amount and PIN entered into NCR app on smartphone reaches NCR cloud via smartphone's data plan; NCR cloud sends said information to bank's switch via Internet or dedicated lease line; switch sends said information to ATM machine via internal LAN / WAN. If this is really how this works, the number of moving parts and the degree of convolutedness are even higher than I'd previously imagined.