Tap-to-Pay ATMs: What They Are and Why Your Customers Will Notice

Think about the last time you paid for something at a store. There's a good chance you didn't insert or swipe a card. You tapped.

Your customers do the same thing everywhere else. Then they walk up to an ATM and have to dig out a plastic card and push it into a slot. Some of them don't even carry the card anymore. It lives on their phone.

That's what tap-to-pay ATMs fix.

What is a tap-to-pay ATM?

A tap-to-pay ATM has a contactless reader, also called an NFC reader. NFC stands for "near field communication." It's the same technology behind tapping a card or phone at a checkout.

Here's how it works:

1. The customer taps a phone, smartwatch, or contactless card on the reader.
2. The ATM reads the account securely.
3. The customer enters their PIN.
4. The machine hands out cash.

The card never goes into the machine.

Can customers use Apple Pay or Google Pay?

At an NFC-enabled ATM, often yes. Hyosung, one of the largest ATM makers, says smartphones with digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay can work, along with smartwatches and contactless cards. It depends on the ATM's network host, and the customer still enters their PIN.

Why does tap-to-pay matter for your business?

It's faster. No inserting, no waiting for a chip to read. That matters at a busy counter or during a bar rush.

It helps stop skimming. Skimming is when criminals attach a hidden device to the card slot to copy card data. With tap-to-pay, the card never goes into the slot. Hyosung says NFC eliminates skimming risk and uses encryption, tokenization, and PIN authentication.

It serves customers who left the card at home. More people keep their cards in their phone. A tap-to-pay ATM lets them get cash anyway.

It looks current. An ATM that works the way customers already pay tells them your business keeps up.

Is tap-to-pay catching on with ATMs?

Yes. At a 2025 industry conference, a Genmega sales executive said adoption of NFC upgrade kits had been growing steadily as more processors certified them, and that it had been "shocking" to see how many kits were going out. Retail checkouts adopted tap-to-pay first. ATMs are catching up.

How do you get a tap-to-pay ATM?

It depends on whether you want a free placement or want to own the machine.

With free placement: tap-to-pay is available for qualifying locations. We'll let you know if your business qualifies when we talk. See how free ATM placement works.

If you're buying a machine: add the NFC reader when you order. It's installed at the factory. On machines we sell, it costs $475 on Hyosung models and $400 to $450 on Genmega models (September 2026 pricing). See the full breakdown in how much an ATM really costs.

If you already own an ATM: some models can take an NFC upgrade kit, but not all. Hyosung, for example, says only certain retail models with the right board and software version can add it. Industry experts advise checking that your machine has the newer control board before buying a kit. Send us your make and model and we'll help you find out.

Is it worth adding NFC when you buy?

For most owners, yes. It costs less to add at the factory than to retrofit later, it helps protect your customers from skimming, and it makes your machine easier to use for the growing number of people who pay with their phones.

If you're comparing machines, read buying a used ATM online too. Older machines often can't be upgraded.

The bottom line

Your customers tap to pay almost everywhere else. A tap-to-pay ATM meets them where they already are, and it helps protect them from skimming while it does.

Want one at your business? Ask us whether your location qualifies for a tap-to-pay free placement.