A machine that spits out money with the press of a few buttons? The concept of an ATM is pretty cool. This ATM is pretty cool too, literally! This ATM was installed in 1998 in Antarctica, the first and only of its kind! Placed there by Wells Fargo, this ATM services the McMurdo Station, which is the largest science hub in the world. Since the temperature regularly drops 40 degrees below Fahrenheit, the ATM is located inside for customer comfort.
While the population of Antarctica never gets above 1000 people, places like coffee shops and post offices exist, which warrants the need for cash. Many places in Antarctica only accept cash, which makes ATM service crucial. Every scientist and other workers at the McMurdo Station are paid by direct deposit, which is a common practice in most workplaces. There are no banks located on Antarctica, which makes the ATM the only source of cash. Considering that many businesses don’t accept credit card or Venmo, cash is king.
Those who work at the McMurdo Station are trained to repair the machine as needed, and Wells Fargo has sent an extra ATM to Antarctica that could be salvaged for spare parts. Routine service is provided every two years to keep them updated on the latest technology and security. The vendors that are sent to Antarctica are given a psychological exam and physical prior to leaving to ensure that they can get the job done.
Since weather conditions don’t regularly allow cash to come on to Antarctica, all of the cash distributed around the island gets recycled by the McMurdo Station finance office. All technicians sent by Wells Fargo are Americans, because Wells Fargo is based in the United States. Technicians regularly spend an entire day repairing the machine, because it will sit for two years without any regular maintenance.
The ATM only dispenses American dollars, even though it’s near the New Zealand territory of Antarctica. There are faux bills that can be used for trading purposes and eventually cashed out for their face value at Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office. Wells Fargo won’t reveal how much money is in the machine, so there’s no telling if you can max out your bank account or not.
Though it seems quite silly, there is still a camera installed in the machine to catch any would-be thieves. Even more fun, there are no ATM fees charged on Antarctica!
