Westpac removes major ATM cash service for millions of Australians

Westpac has put an end to cardless cash withdrawals, forcing Australian customers to use a physical bank card to withdraw money from an ATM.

Westpac ATMs’ cardless cash withdrawal feature will no longer be available from 8pm on Friday.

“As part of the ongoing review of our products and services, Westpac will no longer offer the cardless cash withdrawal feature,” Westpac announced.

Westpac claimed the change was part of an ongoing investigation into the bank’s ‘products and services’.

Customers can still withdraw cash from Westpac ATMs across Australia as long as they use their physical card.

Cash transactions can also be made at all Westpac branches nationwide.

Westpac confirmed that cardless cash deposits would still be available to customers.

Aussies were furious about change, with many claiming that ending cardless cash withdrawal ‘seemed like a step backwards’.

‘Like many people, I no longer carry a physical card, so cardless cash is really my only option when I need cash unexpectedly. It seems like a step backwards,” one person wrote.

“Sounds like a move to eliminate ATMs completely. They don’t want to be in the money business,” a second person noted.

‘I’m devastated too. It seems incredibly sudden and unexpected. I can’t imagine it was a huge burden to enforce,” a third person said.

A fourth added: ‘Wait, do you have to use a physical card now? I haven’t even had a wallet in five years.’

Others suggested the service was exploited by scammers and was shut down to combat fraud.

Westpac customers will have to use their debit card to withdraw money from an ATM

An Australian, who claimed to work at Westpac, explained that the service had been removed due to an “insanely high” number of fraud and scam incidents.

‘I work for Westpac at branch level and the reason we removed them is because the number of fraud and scam incidents that occurred using this capability was insanely high. Like 1000 in the last month,” they claimed.

‘Moreover, there are actually only around 4,000 cardless cash withdrawals per week nationally, which is a drop in the ocean for the total number of bank transactions.

‘It’s just too much hassle to have to administer fraud and scams at branch level and too many people who abuse other people’s internet banking to get the SMS code to withdraw money.’

Westpac explained that customers can withdraw cash using their debit card at a branch, Australia Post, ATMs and stores that accept cash.