ATMs were introduced in 1967 and now number over three million worldwide. The card chip and PIN authenticate the user, the machine queries the issuer over the card network (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bancomat), the issuer authorises or declines, and cash is dispensed within seconds. Modern ATMs also accept cash and cheque deposits with instant credit, sell prepaid mobile top-ups and dispense foreign currency.
ATM use is almost always free at your own bank. At another bank, expect a fee of CHF 2–5 in Switzerland, EUR 2–6 in Germany, and EUR 1–5 in France and Italy, plus a possible foreign-currency surcharge of 2–3% if used abroad. Some travel-oriented debit cards (Revolut, Wise, Neon) waive these fees up to a monthly limit and convert at the interbank rate.
Security tips: cover the keypad while entering your PIN, inspect the card slot for skimming devices, prefer ATMs inside bank branches at night, and enable transaction alerts in your mobile-banking app so any unauthorised withdrawal pings you instantly. Daily withdrawal limits typically range CHF 1,000–3,000 and can usually be raised temporarily through the app.
A traveller in Rome withdraws EUR 200 from an Italian bank's ATM using her Swiss UBS Debit Mastercard. UBS charges CHF 5, the Italian bank's surcharge is EUR 2, and the conversion adds about 1.75%. Total cost in CHF: roughly CHF 215, or 7.5% effective fee on the EUR 200.