ATM maintenance: 4 issues to be aware of

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Security

Here are four ATM maintenance issues to be aware of, as well as tips to prevent them.

Photo: Adobe Stock

July 8, 2025 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

It takes a lot to keep ATMs running, and breakdowns aren’t cheap. For one there’s the monetary cost of repairing the machine and there’s also the customer experience cost, as the banking experience suffers due to a malfunctioning device. In order to be successful at ATM maintenance, there are a few issues to be aware of.

ATM maintenance issue No. 1: cash dispensing

When looking at any maintenance issue, it’s important to consider where the most wear and tear will take place. In the case of ATMs, that would be the cash dispenser.

“We often see mechanical issues stem from failures with an ATM’s cash handling and dispensing functionalities. Since nearly every transaction involves cash being deposited or dispensed, issues like damaged or very dirty bills and even extreme usage can lead to breakdowns,” Brian Gallipeau, SVP of Americas service, Diebold Nixdorf said in an email interview.

Bill Girzone, SVP of global field services at NCR Atleos pointed to “worn parts” in an email interview as another reason behind cash jams.

One issue behind all these cash jams lies with how U.S. bills are made. Nancy Daniels, COO of Hyosung pointed out that US currency is, “made of linen cotton rag (vs Euros which are made of polymer) and as the notes move through the ATM the tend to shed cotton dust particles.”

All this dust can clog up some of the interior hardware within the ATM, which will need to be cleared for it work properly again.

ATM maintenance issue No. 2: Foreign objects

One of the most common ATM features is deposit-accepting functionality. However, deposits can also present maintenance issues, especially if customers forget to only insert cash and checks and instead leave in foreign devices.

“For deposit taking ATM’s it is common for foreign objects like staples, paperclips folds etc. to cause the deposit taking mechanism of the ATM to jam. If jams are serious enough they can damage components inside the ATM including belts and gears which require higher level of technical repairs.” Daniels said.

Foreign objects can also make a big problem with the card reader and customer interface.

“The card reader and customer interface components can also see problems, from chip read errors to foreign objects and even skimming alerts, false or legitimate,” Gallipeau said.

ATM maintenance issue No. 3: Power

No one wants to drive up to an ATM to see that it is powered off due to a fault, but thankfully most of these problems are due to seasonal issues.

“During peak summer months, increased demand on ATM air conditioning systems can lead to power interruptions. In colder climates, extremely low temperatures may cause power loss or hardware malfunctions if the heaters have not been properly maintained,” Girzone said.

Daniels said that in some cases, power issues can come about due to “non isolated circuits which have common inductive loads (such as a refrigeration compressor) can cause power problems resulting in either damage.”

In order to prevent these issues, Girzone recommends “annual inspections and preventive maintenance, including inspecting battery backups and air conditioning or heating elements.”

ATM maintenance issue No. 4: Software

Another major issue is software problems which can cause the ATM to malfunction. It’s important when scheduling ATM maintenance to not forget software.

Software issues don’t just cause an ATM to run poorly. It can also be a big security risk. When the software is out of date, this can create attack vectors for bad actors looking to get in through cyberattacks.

“Software issues often stem from outdated software or firmware, making troubleshooting harder,” Gallipeau said.

Complexity is also an issue here, as more complex software can cause malfunctions.

“The ATM software stack is increasingly complex and although the base ATM applications are highly reliable, as other software is added non-regression tested ATM software stacks can have unexpected effects resulting in ATM functional failures. Sometimes these software issues can create problems such as memory leaks which need to be resolved by resetting the ATM PC core,” Daniels said.

Girzone points to configuration and compatibility issues.

“Enhanced secure communications protocols, PCI compliance requirements (especially related to the encrypting PIN pad) and host-to-bank communication settings are frequent sources of failure. As a result, it’s key to find an experienced service partner who can manage these many variables and deliver a close technology and service relationship with you,” he said.

How to prevent these problems

What are some ways to prevent these issues? One is to simply give the maintenance provider access to the right data.

For example, Daniels points to “ensuring the maintenance provider has access to the maintenance data feeds from the ATM to ensure the proper preventative maintenance is done on the ATM coupled with ensuring that the ATM environment (temperature/humidity) and cash quality are within specifications.”

It’s also useful to have remote management tools in place. With these, ATM providers can reboot a system remotely to see if that fixes an issue or it can detect potential issues and call out preventative maintenance before the ATM breaks.

“Remote diagnostics allow for intelligent dispatching of service technicians with the parts they need to fix the specific issue the ATM is experiencing, reducing service time,” Girzone said. “Many issues, such as cash jams or operating system errors, can be resolved remotely through reboots or script execution, avoiding the need for on-site visits.”

This also applies to software thanks to remote updates to keep the software running efficiently.

“Remote restart capabilities and software patching reduce the need for onsite visits, enabling operators to resolve common faults swiftly and securely,” Gallipeau said.

Operators should also select a good ATM software solutions provider that can meet their needs.

Many ATM maintenance issues are simpler than they appear, as long as they taken care of early. This ensures the ATM will have a long life cycle.

About Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper is the editor of ATM Marketplace and Food Truck Operator. He was previously the editor of Digital Signage Today. His background is in information technology, advertising, and writing.

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