News

UK bank calms cash machine users with classical music

November 30, 2016

The majority (85 percent) of Brits don't know how much money is in their bank account. Which might explain why close to one third (29 percent) feel nervous or physically ill when checking their account balance.

A poll of 2,000 British adults conducted by the U.K. organization YouGov and the nonprofit Stress Management Society also reveals that:

• an estimated 3 million Brits have lied to their partner about the state of their finances
• 7 out of 10 find it difficult to engage with physical money.

In response to these revelations, Atom, the U.K.'s newly minted digital bank, recently debuted a "uniquely relaxing space for people to come face to face with their finances."

The Atom ATM, launched Nov. 16 in central London, occupies an all-white room featuring soft lighting and feather fans, the release said. Oh, and live classical music.

"The U.K. keeps its finances at arm's length because money causes people such enormous stress and anxiety," said Atom Bank CEO Mark Mullen. "Atom was created to redefine the everyday relationship between customers and their money and we thought we might take some of the pain away from confronting the brutal facts when you go to the nearest hole in the wall, with live serenading courtesy of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra."