Swedbank ATMs across Latvia are gradually introducing contactless functionality – now residents will be able to access their accounts and withdraw money without inserting a physical payment card into the ATM. More than 20 ATMs with contactless functionality have already been installed in Riga and other cities in Latvia, and it is planned that more By the end of the year, more than half of all Swedbank ATMs will be equipped with a contactless function. To withdraw money or use any other service, the client just needs to swipe the card, smartphone or smart watch with the contactless payment function activated and enter the card PIN code. ATMs with contactless payment functionality can be identified by the card reader icon. "Contactless payments have become the everyday preference of many Latvian residents – 79% of transactions at retail outlets and service points are made by simply swiping a card. In addition, more than half a million customers have made at least one payment using a smart device in the last 3 months, and for many this is the most a common payment method in everyday life,” says Vadim Frolov, head of customer service at Swedbank. You can perform all normal ATM operations (cash deposits, cash withdrawals, balance checks and account statements) contactless, except changing your PIN. By swiping your smart device or using a card linked to your mobile wallet, you can check your account balance and withdraw cash. Customers who still want to use an ATM by inserting a payment card will not be affected by the new functionality: they will still be able to withdraw and deposit money, change the ATM PIN, check their account balance and perform other routine actions. There are currently 360 Swedbank ATMs in Latvia, 60% of which are cash dispensing ATMs and the rest are universal ATMs where you can withdraw and deposit money.
