Uncertain future: pressure on Swiss ATMs is increasing

According to the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), eight ATMs were blown up between January and June. In 2024 as a whole, there were 48 incidents, with north-western Switzerland being particularly affected.

The Federal Police (Fedpol) sees this as part of a European phenomenon, as the problem is also known in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. However, Switzerland is a particularly popular target due to its geographical location and dense coverage of vending machines. As many as 52 attacks were recorded in 2022 - a European record.

As the criminal groups are becoming increasingly professional, many banks have now revised their security precautions. However, details of the loot or the protective measures used usually remain under wraps.

New habits and alternative solutions

Regardless of criminal attacks, the question of whether traditional ATMs still have a future is increasingly being raised. The decline in cash usage, new customer habits and alternative solutions are putting pressure on the operators of the machines.

Postfinance, for example, registered a 10 percent drop in transactions at its 777 Postomats in the first few months of this year compared to the previous year. A similar decline had been observed in previous years, a spokesperson for the Swiss Post subsidiary told the news agency AWP.

This development contrasts with a growing trend towards digital payment methods. There are also new cash withdrawal models: since March 2025, for example, it has been possible to withdraw between 20 and 300 francs when paying at the checkout in all 247 Aldi stores in Switzerland.

Focus on shared infrastructure

Against the backdrop of declining usage and rising operating costs, banks are increasingly considering shared infrastructures. In France, several institutions - including BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Crédit Mutuel - have joined forces to form the CashServices shared network.

The first steps in this direction have also been taken in Switzerland: according to Swiss Post, it is pursuing partnerships with third-party banks to jointly operate decentralized ATM solutions.

It remains to be seen whether the classic ATM will become obsolete in the future. One thing is clear: the supply of cash remains a central need for many people - even in times of digital payment trends.