When Will The Ad Invasion Stop, CBA to Introduce Ads to ATMs

Commonwealth Bank introduces ads on ATMs: ‘Australian banking first’

Am I the only one that is disgusted with every single company pushing more and more ads into everything we do in life? CBA are set to introduce their own "media network", which will run on ATMs. Reading further it just seems like a way for them to introduce ads while you use the ATM.

A couple of quotes from the article:

CBA chief marketing officer Jo Boundy said the launch was a “significant step” for the bank and would improve customer experience and “deepen the connection between content and commerce”.

Improve my customer experience by showing me ads you make money from?

A CBA spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo Finance the ad may appear before or after ATM transactions, or while it's processing. There will be no disruption to ATM transactions.

No disruption to us while preventing us from using the ATM while you show an ad?

It feels like when Apple started to remove wall chargers and put it down to e-waste rather than them making/saving more money. Now CBA with ads that will "improve" my ATM use.

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Comments

  • +54

    For the once a year I use an ATM it will just be a mere novelty.

    • Where do you deposit the bucket loads of cash?

      • +15

        I use that to pay off bikies.

        • Thought you had to use bitcoin for that.

        • +1

          Which they use to buy gold at Perth Mint! No background checks required.

      • Whores.

        • For sure. Expect 10-20% surcharge in Surry Hills/Haymarket 🤔

      • CBA have also just removed the cardless cash capability from the app.

        • It's now calls QR Cardless withdrawal. Just used this morning.

    • people are so stupid, honestly. they think this is just for ATMs and have no idea that it is much easier to introduce ads to online banking. They are just not introducing it yet so that people get rid of ATMs first

  • +15

    Isn't the simple solution to not use a CBA atm and , if need be, change banks?

    You're the consumer, so if a companies actions annoy or offend you, use your actions.

    If the 'straw that broke the camels back' with regards to advertising for you is it being displayed on an ATM, which you'd likely use for about 30s on the rare occasions you'd need to use it, while having already walked through a shopping centre literally surrounded by advertising, then I'm impressed :)

    • +4

      Yes I won't be using CBA, and I posted here to gather other opinions on it.

      Ads in the shopping centre don't stop me doing what I want. They are just in peripheral vision, I'm not wasting my time waiting for an ad to proceed in what I'm doing. Vastly different

      • +4

        wasting my time waiting for an ad to proceed in what I'm doing

        Doesn't seem so, you even included the quote saying it won't.

        the ad may appear before or after ATM transactions, or while it's processing. There will be no disruption to ATM transactions.

        Seems they just using their atm screens as another 'billboard' showing ads when no one's using it, and then during that time it would normally show 'processing' where they usually just showed their own comm bank services/advertising.

        I posted here to gather other opinions on it.

        And down vote the ones you didn't agree with :)

        • -2

          So you don't think waiting for an ad to disappear before you can do your transaction on the ATM is going to be a disruption?
          Haven't downvoted, just shows not everyone agrees with your opinion of it not being a disruption I guess, or your ability to compare shopping centre screen/billboard advertisement to ones on ATMs. I don't know, go make a thread and ask why there?

          • +1

            @knobbs:

            So you don't think waiting for an ad to disappear before you can do your transaction on the ATM is going to be a disruption?

            where does their comment/description say this would happen?

            • +2

              @SBOB: The quote from the CBA rep that says the ad will be either before or after the transaction, hence not being on the middle to disrupt it

              • @knobbs: Guess it depends on when the "transaction" starts, I would assume once you insert your card, as it would then prompt for your pin. Perhaps our interpretations of their wording differs.

                but either way, use your consumer power and refuse to use their services.

                • +1

                  @SBOB: Yeah I can see it your way I guess, time will tell.
                  Already have dropped them

      • Yes I won't be using CBA, and I posted here to gather other opinions on it.

        Not really, you posted here to have a whinge about it, otherwise, you would not be arguing with everyone who says that it's not a big deal for them.

        Ads in the shopping centre don't stop me doing what I want. They are just in peripheral vision, I'm not wasting my time waiting for an ad to proceed in what I'm doing. Vastly different

        You can compare it to ones that do - ads before YouTube videos, commercial breaks on TV…etc.

        FWIW, I do agree with you that it seems a bit outrageous to have ads on an ATM when we already pay for the banking service (directly or indirectly through merchant fees), but ultimately we are not starved for choices. I'm sure the NAB / ANZ / Westpac directly across the CBA in your shopping centre would be more than happy to help you set up a new account with them.

        • It's a big assumption that every shopping centre has all major bank branches present.

          My local shopping centre has zero bank branches, and an atmX ATM.

          The larger regional centre a couple of suburbs away has a bigger variety of ATMs, and has a CBA and NAB branch. No Westpac, no ANZ. The latter two have a presence in smaller shopping centres 4-5 suburbs away.

        • Wait till you see the ads in supermarket self checkouts.

    • +2

      Isn't irony that we should be vigilant when drawing cash against being robbed and now bank is feeding you with ads that will disrupt you. Greed has no limits.

    • Good in theory, but CBA is the Apple of Australian banks, whatever they do the rest will copy

  • +41

    Or, wait till they use ads to pay for the service…

    "Do you wish to skip this ad for $2.50?"

    or

    "Sign up to CBA Premium, where there are no ads, ever… (*Premiums service is $14.99/m ongoing, renews automatically until cancelled. T&C's apply. Please read the PDS before deciding if this product for you.*)"

    • +7

      Scary future

      • Pretty much here already… want your seat heaters to work? Etc etc

  • +5

    Can't remember the last time I used an ATM. So who cares.

    Never use cash, except for one business that offers me a discount if I pay in cash, which I suspect they do so there's no record of the money coming and they don't have to declare it and pay tax. For them I get the cash out at the supermarket self-checkout.

    • +8

      Yes I use an ATM maybe 2 or 3x a year, but if no one cares this then sets the new standard. Ads will filter the way into online banking etc etc further. Once this level of intrusion is widely just accepted because it doesn't affect me much today, it likely will keep building into the future.
      I think it will be similar to how Apple stopped including wall chargers in the name of saving the planet, everyone made fun of them and now most manufacturers are doing it. It's just the start

  • +1

    Hardly anyone using them anymore, combined with them being free means that they need to pay for it somehow.

    • +3

      What's wrong with the last few decades of funding they have used to pay for them. There are less ATMs now and they are now shoving ads into them. As I said above this is how it starts before it's the new norm and then ads come elsewhere too

      • +2

        The alternative is they get rid of them or start charging again. First to go would be the standalone ones that they have to pay rent on the space.

      • ads come elsewhere too

        Beamed straight into your dreams, via Neuralink.

      • There are less ATMs now and they are now

        And the number of people using them are dropping even faster. Either the banks take away more ATMs, charge a fee, or show ads; pick your poison.

        I haven’t used an ATM in over a year, and the few times I had to use one, I had to look one up on Google Maps and drive there just for that. Given the time I have to waste getting to an ATM, a 30-second ad or whatever is nothing. Using cash and ATMs is a much bigger waste of time than whatever ads a bank can push on them.

  • +7

    I feel like this is just designed to piss off the “cash is king” crowd who surely are the only ones using an ATM more than 4 times a year. In which case I approve.

    Also if you don’t like it just don’t use a CommBank ATM

    • +12

      Nah, it's just about making more money.

      • I look forward to seeing ad revenue as a line on their P&L when they post another $10 billion profit next year

        • Add a shareholder I look forward to it as well.

          • +4

            @JIMB0: Ads make cents. Cheers

            • @MS Paint: I'll gladly take ten billion cents in revenue.

    • You know as soon as it proves a success every ATM will start doing this right?

      We're already seeing the start of adverts playing while you fill up your car.

  • +8

    Yeah that sucks. I know it's not the biggest deal as most don't frequent an ATM too often but I'm with you on hating how everything has to be advertisement space.
    The worse are the stupid ad screens while you fill up at servos.

    As others have said, you can switch banks and maybe give feedback if it's a big deal to you.
    Unfortunately it probably won't change much and other banks are likely to follow suit

  • I dont mind if i can customise the ads to my preferences (marvels, anime, movies trailers, and onlyfans)

    • +9

      Maybe they will, they have your purchase history

      • One day someone will be arrested for public indecency while using a CBA ATM

        • +1

          Look it said to make a deposit, what was I supposed to do?

  • +3

    CBA and all the pain they had put me thru!

    Then I found Ubank. Not only does it work, for me it is the one sending money fastest, even eftpos transactions overseas are fast and free.

  • -1

    If it's gonna keep the costs down, why not

  • Haven't used an ATM since the pre covid era so don't care.

  • +7

    In answer to your first sentence- yes absolutely. They are completely brain numbing and seem to cater to the lowest common denominator. you’re forced to sit through them like -_-

    I’ve changed radio stations to SBS chill and since I spend a lot of my time driving, it’s revolutionized my life. Zero ads, free, zero stupid forced laughter radio jockies. It’s brilliant. I can almost feel my brain thanking me for not subjecting it to brain numbing ads.
    The downside to this is when you’re with someone else listening to ‘normal’ radio or say free Spotify with ads, it’s borderline torture haha

  • +1

    you guys use ATMs?

    • +3

      I use them to deposit the cash that the people that use ATMs insist on having.

      • CBA currently have 'cardless' cash deposits via their ATMs, but there's a notice on their ATMs now, saying that CBA will be turning this off but with no timeline given.

    • +7

      Local restaurants around where I live offer 5% off total bill vs 2% surcharge for credit card payments. So yes, I withdrawing cash out every weekend.

      • +1

        that black economy cash sales

      • Same. Can’t avoid cash at all. There were in the past i used debit card on saving account to avoid fees but all restaurants simply charges fees on any card payments.

      • +2

        so really a 7% surcharge for card?

  • +4

    I thought this was inevitable once they made ATMs free for everyone… gotta pay for the ATM upkeep/etc somehow.

  • +1

    I can't remember the last time I used an ATM…

  • +2

    Making me watch ads just makes me hate your product. If they waived ATM fees to watch ONE short ad and only while the transaction is being processed? Sure. Push it and I'm switching banks.

  • +2
  • Cash is King!

  • +8

    It better not be a 30s unskippable ad while the transaction is processing.

    i'm outraged that more news sites are now aping Newscorp-esque clickbait headlines:
    huge change about your finances but i won't tell you here
    Crazy activist slammed suggestion to fly economy
    Worst case scenario, panic at Kamp Kamala
    Sad reason why actress A is forgotten by Hollywood

  • +4

    Waiting for CBA ATMs to have stories

  • +1

    cash is ads

  • No ads - not ATM's
    Only a ever diminishing throwbacks still use cash - consumers have spoken and cash is not what is wanted anymore.
    Running a ATM at a loss is not viable - ads may keep them around a tiny bit longer for thoses that have not moved on.

    • +5

      Running a ATM at a loss

      Banks, with their multi-billion dollar profits saying they're "running ATM(s) at a loss" ?

      • +1

        How many transactions are electronic vs cash ?

        But yes, same reason why branches had to shut all over the country - not economically viable when there is so few that use them nowadays.

        Cash is continuing to diminish in use.

        • -1

          not economically viable

          It must always be viable to preserve freedoms of the country's population.

          Freedom has a high cost.

          Focusing on cost, is not the same as focusing on freedom.

          • @whyisave: yeah ok..
            Will still be able to get cash form post offices etc.
            But do expect more and more shops to refuse cash and be electronic only (again consumer driven).

            • -1

              @Sal in SA:

              But do expect more and more shops to refuse cash

              I'm not a legal expert, but it could be unconstitutional to refuse accepting cash.

              (again consumer driven)

              Whatever consumers are fed, they are going to digest.

              • +1

                @whyisave:

                I'm not a legal expert, but it could be unconstitutional to refuse accepting cash

                Why would if be 'unconsitutional'?

                There are no laws that force businesses to accept cash, and they are free to define their payment options/terms as part of their offer to supply goods/services

                • +1

                  @SBOB:

                  There are no laws that force businesses to accept cash, and they are free to define their payment options/terms as part of their offer to supply goods/services

                  You are right.

                  I read this summary here:
                  https://lawpath.com.au/blog/is-it-legal-for-a-business-to-re…

                  Is it legal to refuse legal tender in Australia?
                  Businesses have an obligation to accept legal tender unless an alternative means of purchase has been specified by verbal or written agreement.

                  By purchasing goods or services, you’re entering into such an agreement with the seller. A business can set the terms of the agreement prior to the purchase, including how payment will be made, including by putting a sign in the store about what kinds of payment methods will or won’t be accepted.

                  Therefore if you provide verbal or written notice prior to entering the contract with your customer, your business isn’t obliged to accept cash as a form of payment. And instead, you can state you’re only accepting cashless payments.

                  It’s not uncommon for some shops to display signs at their checkout or at the door to give customers adequate notice that they refuse cash payments.

                  Also, from RBA

                  RBA - Legal Tender
                  https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/legal/legal-tender/

                  Transactions In Australian Currency
                  Every sale, transaction or dealing relating to money, or involving the payment of, or a liability to pay, money in Australia is to be done in Australian currency unless it is done, or the parties to the sale, transaction or dealing agree that it will be done, in the currency of another country.

                  However although transactions are to be in Australian currency unless otherwise agreed or specified, and Australian currency has legal tender status, Australian banknotes and coins do not necessarily have to be used in transactions and refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.

  • +2

    Waiting for a news when hackers put a script into ATM. How about getting paid $5 into people's account every time ads appear on the ATM screen?

    I believe all ATM machines are based on Windows :P

  • +2

    Would rather an ad than a transaction fee.

  • +7

    I hate the ads played on the pumps, at some servos. If it wasn't for their pricing I'd avoid altogether.

    • +1

      The ones at the woolies servos were the worst, they were so overly loud, enough ppl mustve complained because their a lot, lot quieter now.

  • I'm not with CBA but I do visit ATMs at least 3 times a month.

    • And for majority of people, they have not used a atm for years.

      • +1

        they have not used a atm for years.

        Many people withdraw money via EFTPOS, at a supermarket too.

        • Yeah, at some point I expect supermarkets to say it is not cost effective to do cash onsite.

  • That's nothing. Car companies are looking at using voice recognition software to listen to the conversations taking place in your car and then automatically start playing tailored ads to you via the entertainment system based on the discussion topics.

    Example: you are driving in your car and talking with family about where to go for dinner and mention Chinese food. An ad will automatically start playing through the car's entertainment system for Chinese restaurants in the area.

    Advertising's intrusiveness is going to get a hell of lot worse in the future as corporations try to suck as much money as possible out of people.

  • I thinks ads in the commbank App would be even better. I hope they are working on it

  • +4

    Wild how whenever corporations try to monetize their consumer base, people are actually shilling for the company as to why it's a good thing and it doesn't bother them at all completely negating that not everyone lives by their worldview.
    Why does it bother you? You're watching ads in the store anyway.
    Cash is king crowd getting pissed off? Glorious.

    From what I've seen, when companies pull off these stunts, it's usually a small part of a larger rollout. Streaming for example, they were slowly increasing prices and people were like, well, they've got to offset losses somehow, and now we have tiers that cost the same as premium used to while also showing ads. Twitter introduced Blue, and then other social media companies followed afterwards with their own subscription service that would boost engagement and help gain followers. It's not an industry-specific trend, I wouldn't be surprised if banks started in-app purchases for premium features, putting ads in online banking before/after payments, it's always small symptoms part of a larger inconvenience.

    • +2

      it's always small symptoms

      Frog boiling

  • You'll be seeing them at the petrol bowser soon.

    • +1

      They already have ads at petrol bowsers in Melbourne. Have for years.

  • If we can get free withdrawals it may be worth it…

    • -1

      withdrawals of what thou ?

  • What's an atm?

  • Lucky I don't use CBA ATMs. I use one of those fee free banks and do all my withdrawals through them.

  • +1

    In the immortal words of Fry from Futurama: "omg it's full of ads!"

  • I'm not a CBA customer but I wouldn't be surprised if CBA is the first mover and the others follow suit - but I don't really care, it's in the "rather not, but whatever" bucket.

    That comes with a few conditions though - so long as the transaction processing isn't intentionally delayed so the advert can complete, and I'd rather ad revenue be used to maintain profits so they're not adding fees on some other useful service. I can tune out the ads, and sometimes they're actually of use to me since I don't watch free-to-air TV anymore. If you're sailing the seven seas, you simply don't see many ads anymore.

    • +1

      It’s this type of apathy why they keep getting away with this dumb shit.

      You give them a finger and they’ll take your whole hand if they could.

      • +1

        I wish I could give more than a +1

      • Did you read the full comment or just part of the first sentence? I'd argue it isn' apathy, it's a difference in where I want to spend my money.

        Do i like ads? no.

        Do I like paying for banking? no

        Would i rather someone else paid for my banking, or that I got banking in a way that didn't take money from my wallet? yes.

        I don't see it much different than the bank not passing on the FULL earnings from leanding out my money as interest because they take a cut as profit/pay for operating costs… but if someone offers a better deal by taking a lesser cut, then I'll switch.

        If commbanks offered a higher interst rate, but it came with ads on the ATM - would I say i hate ads, or would I see it as being paid to be subjected to an ad and just have to figure out if the money is worth it.

        You're on ozbargain, which runs ads. I'm happy with their current level of trade-off between showing me stuff I don't want but can ignore, in exchange for the useful part of ozbargain that i want. If the ads ad parts I don't want changed, there would be a threshold and beyond that I would stop using the service (assuming I couldn't just block ads and use it anyway).

        • Dude, they make billions of dollars of profit already from everyone’s money.

          They don’t need the ad revenue. Quit defending this dumb consumerist mindset.

          I know it’s ironic talking about consumerism on this website, but surely you see how we should be putting a stop with ads being shoved in our faces everywhere we go.

  • Upgrade premium account to skip the ads.

  • Yeah screw this OP, I’m with you. They make enough money to not need to bombard you with advertising.

    I don’t bank with them, but stuff like this would definitely get me to look at others.

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