The ATM that knows your name

A new generation of cash machines that can greet customers by name, and remember what services they require, is coming to Britain.

ATM manufacturer NCR said a number of leading UK banks were looking at introducing software that personalises transactions.

The machines will be able to automatically offer customers the service they usually ask for. And while transactions are being processed they can even remind users of important dates - such as family birthdays, or upcoming payments of bills or car insurance.

They may also be able to warn of an approaching overdraft limit, and give customers the option of extending it using the ATM.

Research carried out for NCR found 69 per cent of people select the same service each time they use an ATM. The company said a personalised service could cut transaction times by up to a third, helping to reduce cash machine queues.

NCR vice-president Simon Rubin said: "Given the success of ATM personalisation in North America and Asia, we could expect to see the first personalised ATM in the UK within a year."