# ATM "cents" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967 "2006-08-02T02:37:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/1 "2006-08-02T02:37:49Z")
When keying in an amount on an ATM, why do I have to include cents? If I want $100, why do I have to type 1-0-0-0-0, rather than 1-0-0? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ATM that gave change. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/2 "2006-08-02T02:44:44Z")
I suppose it could be designed that way for withdrawals although user tests probably showed that people expect to have to enter cents in and they wouldn’t like to ask for what they think is $10 and get $1000 out when they machine isn’t designed like they expect it to be… More importantly, it is for consistency between the transactions. You may not be able to ask for $103.41 out as a withdrawal but you can make a deposit for that amount. Good system design usually dictates that you keep functions consistent within the same software. There is usually a button that you can choose to get a fast cash amount back such as $20 or $100 however so that should take care of some of your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/3 "2006-08-02T03:14:14Z")
Some of my bank’s newer ATMs do not ask for the cents when withdrawing cash, the older ones all do. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/4 "2006-08-02T03:14:32Z")
I never type in cents for withdrawls, just 1-0-0-“ok” for $100. Never had a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/5 "2006-08-02T03:19:03Z")
Actually, on reflection, _sometimes_ I have to type in all digits, when the interface operates like: ENTER AMOUNT FOR WITHDRAWAL $0.00 (press 1) $0.01 (press 0) $0.10 (press 0 three more times) $100.00 Not all machines are programmed in this way, though. Around here, I’d say they were the minority. Most machines assume dollars by default, skipping cent withdrawals that they couldn’t handle in any case. I’m guessing some newer machines anticipate to-the-penny withdrawals to future media like cash cards and whatnot and their software is written accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/6 "2006-08-02T03:33:03Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’m guessing some newer machines anticipate to-the-penny withdrawals to future media like cash cards and whatnot and their software is written accordingly. In my experience it’s been the opposite. Machines I remember using in the 90’s all had the cents enabled like your post explained, but newer machines that I’ve used in the past couple of years have dispensed with that “feature”. ---
**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/7 "2006-08-02T04:46:23Z")
My experience has varied from machine to machine, bank to bank. Rarely do I have to key in the amount for a withdrawl, I usual just select an amount given. My guess though would be that it has more to do with the machines ability to accept deposits. This is just a WAG but perhaps the machine can only delineate one format and thus uses \*with cents \* for both deposits and withdrawls. I realise not all machines accept deposits, but it’s probably more efficient than writing seperate programs for individual sorts of cash station. ---
**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/8 "2006-08-02T04:52:18Z")
Shagnamit **Shagnasty**! I wish I had bothered to thoroughly read the replys! Oh well, at least I feel vindicated with my WAG! ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/9 "2006-08-02T05:09:07Z")
Hijack here. FWIW, back in the day, when ATMs were still cutting edge gizmos, I once used one that dispensed change – even pennies – if you requested a withdrawal that included cents. Never saw another one that could do that after that single encounter. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/10 "2006-08-02T06:01:47Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > Hijack here. FWIW, back in the day, when ATMs were still cutting edge gizmos, I once used one that dispensed change – even pennies – if you requested a withdrawal that included cents. Never saw another one that could do that after that single encounter. The branch I banked with when I lived in Philipsburg, PA from 1997-2000 had an ATM that dispensed change. I thought it was odd the first time it was brought to my attention, I think I lost a bet with the person that told me about it. 😉 I first started using ATMs in NJ when I turned 18 and opened my first account, in 1988 (and I called them MAC machines until I moved out here) and I’d never seen one before that dispensed change. Haven’t seen one since either. Sorry to continue the hijack. And around here it depends on the machine, though I think I’m seeing more where it’s not necessary to type the .00 for a withdrawal. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/11 "2006-08-02T06:18:18Z")
The coin dispensers are STILL an option. I believe at least one tax prep place lets you cash your “refund loan” check in their office, down to the cent. One temp agency I’m aware of offers down to the cent cashing of your checks at their ATM, minus a small but nearly reasonable fee (compared to check cashing, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/12 "2006-08-02T08:56:32Z")
As has been noted, if you want to _deposit_ money, as in a payroll or third-party check, it’s a useful feature. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/13 "2006-08-02T09:10:24Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > More importantly, it is for consistency between the transactions. You may not be able to ask for $103.41 out as a withdrawal but you can make a deposit for that amount. Good system design usually dictates that you keep functions consistent within the same software. You can also use an ATM to transfer funds between your accounts. The cents option would be used for this. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/14 "2006-08-02T15:39:31Z")
Simple answer to the OP: it helps prevent mistakes. If the customer wants to withdraw $10 and inputs 10(.)00 for the withdrawal amount, the machine would remit $1000. If the cents is required (the reverse of the previous situation) the error will be corrected immediately as the machine cannot remit 10 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Heckxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/15 "2006-08-02T16:38:03Z")
I think I was at an ATM once that couldn’t even give me 50 dollars…because it only dispensed 20’s… lame. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/16 "2006-08-02T17:07:44Z")
> [@Common Tater](#): > > As has been noted, if you want to _deposit_ money, as in a payroll or third-party check, it’s a useful feature. So? It is very easy to have a separate routine for keying in deposits vs. keying in withdrawls. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/17 "2006-08-02T17:55:57Z")
> [@flex727](#): > > Simple answer to the OP: it helps prevent mistakes. If the customer wants to withdraw $10 and inputs 10(.)00 for the withdrawal amount, the machine would remit $1000. If the cents is required (the reverse of the previous situation) the error will be corrected immediately as the machine cannot remit 10 cents. ATMs don’t give out $1000 either. I’ve never been to an ATM that will give more than $300 at a time. So there’s no amount of money an ATM can dispense that, either multiplied or divided by 100 is _also_ an amount of money that an ATM can dispense. I think the obvious answer is so that they could write one software routine to handle “Amount Entry”. Sure, you could write more than one, but that increases the chance for error, the time spent in testing, and your code size. The last is probably trivial now, but I bet it wasn’t back in the 80s. **Heckxx** , the vast majority of ATMs only dispense 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Heckxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/18 "2006-08-02T18:00:02Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > **Heckxx** , the vast majority of ATMs only dispense 20s. I figured someone would say that. I guess I’ve haven’t been around much. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/19 "2006-08-02T18:10:03Z")
> [@Heckxx](#): > > I think I was at an ATM once that couldn’t even give me 50 dollars…because it only dispensed 20’s… > > lame. Am I being whooshed or is Illinois crawling with ATMs that dispense something other than 20’s? I’ve heard of ATMs that dispense 10’s or 5’s but I’ve never actually seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967/20 "2006-08-02T18:13:27Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > ATMs don’t give out $1000 either. I’ve never been to an ATM that will give more than $300 at a time. So there’s no amount of money an ATM can dispense that, either multiplied or divided by 100 is _also_ an amount of money that an ATM can dispense… > **Heckxx** , the vast majority of ATMs only dispense 20s. My local machine will dispense $500. Trying to get more in an additional transaction won’t work; it’s a daily limit. My old college machine used to dispense $20’s & 5’s. I figured it was because it was primarily for college student use and low bank balances are common. All of a sudden you see $5.36 in your account and you can go, “Whoopee, $5.00!!”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-cents/366967.md?page=2)