Barclays Bank, which opened the world’s first ATM, gets UK heritage status

Gulf Today Report

Here is a trivia question: which bank opened the world’s first automated teller machine (ATM)? For those who are blissfully ignorant of the answer, it is Barclays Bank in the London suburb of Enfield. The ATM was inaugurated by the comedian Reg Varney on June 27, 1967.

Now this branch is getting historic status: it has been added to the National Heritage List of England, for its exquisite architectural design. The list is a roster of Britain’s most prestigious historic buildings and sites, according to a report in a section of the British media.

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Interestingly, this cash machine did not function the way ATMs do these days. The customer inserted a special paper voucher like a cheque that was punched with dots. The dots corresponded to the four-digit PIN. A signature and PIN were needed to verify authenticity and if they matched a 10-pound note was issued. This was a technological revolution at the time.

Barclays has shuttered almost a thousand branches since 2015. A report last year said another 37,000 free-to-use machines could also shut shop.