About The Oldest ATM Location In America
The ATM machine was initially known as a Docuteller because it was manufactured by the firm Docutel
ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. An ATM is an electronic banking device that allows customers to perform various financial transactions without the need for a bank teller or branch.
The first ATM location in the United States was installed at a branch of Chemical Bank in Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York. It still exists today (now JPMorgan Chase), making it the oldest ATM location in America.
The American Banker recognizes it as the first U.S. ATM. The Village Of Rockville Center describes it as America's first automatic teller machine. The Almanac recognizes it as the first ATM in the U.S.
On September 2, 1969, America’s first automatic teller machine (ATM) made its public debut, dispensing cash to customers. The public could access money 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was officially the first U.S. ATM that opened for business. Chemical Bank introduced the ATM in 1969 in Rockville Centre, NY before JP Chase acquired the company in 1996.
The machine was initially known as a Docuteller because it was manufactured by the firm Docutel and, like most early ATMs, its use was limited only to customers of the bank. When it was introduced, Chemical’s ATM was called a “Docuteller” or a “Docutel cash dispensing machine”.
It accepted the MasterCharge card, which customers could get at any local Chemical Bank. The advertisements for the new ATM stated “On September 2, our banks will open at 9 a.m. and never close again”.
The ATM was developed by Don Wetzel, an American engineer, who wanted to create a solution to help people access their money outside of regular banking hours. This installation marked the beginning of a significant shift in the way people access and manage their finances.
ATMs became a common feature of banks and other financial institutions across the country, making it much more convenient for customers to withdraw cash and perform basic banking transactions.
ATMs went on to revolutionize the banking industry, eliminating the need to visit a bank to conduct basic financial transactions. By the 1980s, these money machines had become widely popular and handled many of the functions previously performed by human tellers, such as check deposits and money transfers between accounts.
Today, ATMs are as indispensable to most people as cell phones and e-mail. Despite the increasing popularity of digital banking channels, ATMs remain an essential part of the banking infrastructure, providing accessible and convenient banking services to millions of people around the word.
In honor of the oldest ATM location in America, JPMorgan Chase hosted a 50th anniversary celebration at its Rockville Centre, NY branch on Sept. 6, 2019 at 10 a.m. The inventor of the ATM, Don Wetzel, attended, as well as local officials and community members.
Wetzel, 90 years old at the time of the event, traveled from his Dallas home with his wife and daughter to Rockville Centre for the special ceremony to commemorate the installation of the very first machine.
“I never dreamed these machines would be all over the world, with millions being sold,” Wetzel told LIBN. “That was above our expectations.” As Wetzel tells it, the idea for the ATM – he still co-owns the patent for it – came about while he waited on line at the bank to get some cash before a trip.
“It was noon time, and pay day for some,” recalled Wetzel, who at the time was a vice president of product planning at Docutel, a subsidiary of Recognition Equipment Inc., a technology automation company that made automated baggage handling equipment.
