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2013 in review: The year's top 10 ATM articles

With upcoming ATM industry deadlines for PCI, Windows 7 and EMV migration, 2013 was 'The Year of Living Distractedly.'

January 2, 2014

While we're still back-spacing in documents to change the date because we forgot that it's a new year, ATM Marketplace has taken a look at the stories that captured the industry's attention in 2013.

We noted with a complete lack of surprise that EMV was the subject of the No. 1 story of the year, and with great surprise that a few stories from 2012 were the most-read items of the year.

(Since the 2012 stories did not make that year's Top 10 list, we like to think that we might have been ahead of the curve on those topics.)

Following is the countdown of what the industry was thinking, talking and worrying about in 2013: 

10) Does an ATM skimming solution have to be rocket science?

This feature took a look at M&T Bank's anti-skimming solution, the Blocker, an inexpensive approach to the very costly problem problem of card skimming. Fabricated from high-impact polycarbonate and secured to the ATM with six metal rivets, the device makes it impossible for a would-be thief to install a fake bezel over the machine's card slot.

9) Diebold struggles to realize its potential

Coverage of the ATM manufacturer's 2Q earnings call included comments from its new president and CEO, Andy Mattes. He reported that Diebold had "significantly reduced" its outlook for 2013, and described steps the company was taking to reverse three years of negative-trending cashflow. "While we have a lot of work ahead of us, my overall assessment is that we have a great turnaround opportunity here," he said.

8) Talaris, Glory Group integrate as Glory Global Solutions

This story — actually a news brief and not a feature — announced the formation of Glory Global Solutions, created by the merger of Japan's Glory Group and England-based Talaris in July of 2011. Combining the companies into a single entity created one of the world's largest cash management companies, the announcement said.

7) Has the check-cashing ATM finally arrived?

The dark horse of the Top 10, this story originally headlined in March 2012 and covered a partnership between Genmega and Nexxo Financial Services that promised to place "affordable, reliable check-cashing ATM/kiosks on the streets." Genmega VP of sales Wes Dunn and Nexxo CEO David Alvarez explained the concept. How did it work? Look for a follow-up soon.

6) MasterCard, NAC announce 'real world' plan to address April 19 liability shift

This April 11 exclusive detailed a stop-gap solution devised by MasterCard and the National ATM Council to mitigate fraud risk for IADs that not be ready to accept Maestro EMV transactions before an April 19 liability shift. The plan was not without its detractors. In a follow-up feature, industry leaders explained what made the measure "a palliative rather than a solution."

5) 3 ways cash management will change in 2013

In a December 2012 commentary, Richard McMurdo, a principal consultant at Glory Global Solutions, predicted that intelligent cash forecasting would help branches run more efficiently; bank branch design would change dramatically; and self-service technology would step up to enhance the customer experience. If the next three stories are any indication, he pulled off a hat trick. 

4) Diebold ATM concept gets a Millennial-inspired look and feel

Diebold produced enough good news in 2013 to dispel at least some part of the earnings gloom. In January, the company introduced a cloud-based ATM with a touchscreen interface, cardless accessiblility and the ability to operate seamlessly  across endpoints — smartphone screen, tablet, ATM terminal — whatever might be convenient for the user at the moment. The feature included video demos of the concept.

3) With self-service ATMs, Wells Fargo thinks big to build small

Changing times and a challenging economic environment have forced FIs to rethink the traditional "Big Box" branch of the past. And their brainstorming has produced some pretty impressive results. Aided by self-service technology and tablet computers, new branches are ditching the teller counter and placing staff in more open, intimate (i.e., compact) environs where they can meet customers shoulder-to-shoulder, as this feature explains.

2) New Nautilus Halo ATM shines

Unveiled in May at its annual user's conference, the Nautilus Halo takes its design cues from Apple, the company said. This replacement for the popular, but aging, 1800 line features a sleek exterior, an upsized monitor and a "Jetsons"-style recessed PIN pad. And it's also backwardly compatible with the 1800 line from a parts perspective, a major score for the new line.

1) Visa expands EMV roadmap to include ATMs

In February, Visa announced a long-awaited roadmap for EMV liability shifts at ATMs — that didn't match MasterCard's already-announced timeline. In our top-rated feature of the year, ATM Marketplace unraveled the hairball of EMV implementation schedules. (Sort of. It took clarification from Visa to get the story right. And then it got all raveled up again by August, anyway.)

Read more about trends and statistics.

Cover photo: Anthony Godhingo