Blog

Glad to be onboard — looking forward to covering the ATM industry!

New ATM Marketplace editor is dedicated to covering how the industry is evolving.

June 12, 2019 by Amy Castor — Editor, Networld Media Group

Dear Reader —

I'm delighted to join Networld Media Group as editor of ATM Marketplace and World of Money.

As a communications writer and a journalist, I cut my teeth on high tech. In recent years, my interests shifted to cryptocurrency. As a crypto writer, my work has appeared in CoinDesk, Forbes, Bitcoin Magazine and Decrypt. Now, I'm looking forward to focusing on the ATM space.

The ATM industry is facing big challenges. According to the ATM Industry Association, as of 2015, there were over 3 million ATMs installed worldwide. Those numbers are in decline as a large swath of the world is shifting to cashless methods of payment. People are paying for things with credit cards and mobile apps. An entire country, Sweden wants to get rid of notes and coins completely.

On the other hand, businesses that have tried to go completely cashless have gotten push back over concerns that it would leave out the working class and low-income families, who are still largely dependent on cash. In some places of the world, like India, ATM use is proliferating — so much so, that the country's central bank is working to reduce associated fees, so people can access cash more affordably.

What is the future for cash machines? They are evolving. The old concepts of cash machines that took root in the 1980s, are making room for ATMs that deliver a slew of automated banking services or "branch-in-a-box" functions. They're also modernizing with touchless user interfaces, brighter displays, video banking and faster transaction times — and more will offer multiple currencies.

As ATMs keep up with the times, they still face another hurdle: fraud. Where there is money, there are people coming up with sophisticated ways to steal it. Recently, a bitcoin ATM in a London tube station was seen spitting out notes in what appeared to be a jackpotting attack. As you know, ATMs need to be secure, not just from hackers, but physical attacks, like the recent one in Murupara, New Zealand, where thieves ripped out an ATM with stolen front-end loader.

I am looking forward to covering all of these topics in depth. If you have story ideas, or there is something you want me to cover, please reach out. My email is editor@atmmarketplace.com, and I would love to hear from you.

Best —
Amy Castor
Editor, ATM Marketplace
Editor, World of Money

Cover photo: iStock

About Amy Castor

Amy Castor has more than 20 years of experience in journalism and mass communications. In the last several years, she has gotten particularly interested cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies and other evolving forms of payment. Her work has appeared in consumer and trade publications throughout the U.S., including CoinDesk, Forbes, and Bitcoin Magazine. She is now the editor of ATMmarketplace.com and WorldofMoney.com

Connect with Amy: