Wells Fargo to open up iPhone-based ATM withdrawals next week, no Apple Pay yet

Following the end of a successful pilot project, Wells Fargo will be opening up smartphone-based withdrawals at all 13,000 of its U.S. ATMs on Monday, March 27 — though support for Apple Pay isn't yet on the horizon.

Instead people will have to use the Wells Fargo app to request a one-time, eight-digit code, which must be combined with a PIN, Reuters said. While not necessarily more efficient, the method will mean being able to withdraw cash without a debit card.

In theory it may also improve security, since customers won't risk encountering a card skimmer. State-of-the-art skimmers are difficult to spot and can steal data from a number of cards before banks and customers catch on.

CBS noted that phone-based withdrawals should become simpler later in 2017, when an update will eliminate the need for a code and only ask that people hold their phone up to a reader.

It's likely that Wells Fargo will eventually add ATM support for Apple Pay, given that it already supports the platform for payments and one of its main rivals — Bank of America — has been offering Apple Pay withdrawals since June 2016.

To date Bank of America's compatibility is still limited to "select" locations, which could give Wells Fargo a chance to catch up.

20 Comments

avon b7 20 Years · 8046 comments

About 7 years ago

I've had this service for years with my bank. It's handy for when you realise you've left your card at home and you're at the checkout (happened once to me) or if family or friends need cash and you are not on hand to take it out of the machine.

SpamSandwich 19 Years · 32917 comments

ApplePay at ATMs would be a no-brainer for more secure withdrawals. Even better would be a debit card containing the funds securely locked away in the Wallet app, like a Bitcoin wallet.

randominternetperson 8 Years · 3101 comments

avon b7 said:

I've had this service for years with my bank. It's handy for when you realise you've left your card at home and you're at the checkout (happened once to me) or if family or friends need cash and you are not on hand to take it out of the machine.

Last year I drove to Home Depot during a blizzard to get some critical supplies and found that when I went to check-out that I had forgotten my wallet. At least at the time, they didn't take Apple Pay. After a round trip back to Home Depot in white out conditions, I noticed that they accept Pay Pal. So I could have checked out via my phone after all. Too bad the cashier couldn't have suggested that! So, I agree with you 100%. The day I can leave my wallet at home without any inconvenience will be a great day. I suppose we'll need a virtual driver's license app first. I'm not holding my breath.

[Deleted User] 11 Years · 0 comments

so it's not "iphone based" at all, it's code/pin based and could theoretically be used on android/windows phone too if they have apps for this bank. several other banks already have this but you get the code over the phone or by text. write an article about it when they are NFC / apple-pay compatible, thats news. ;)

payeco 17 Years · 581 comments

Anyone know if you can make deposits with this method as well or if it's withdraws only?