Meeting Gen-Z at the ATM: Zoomers and the ATM Experience in 2025
Gen-Z Banking in 2025: A New Set of Expectations
Gen-Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, are no longer just “emerging” consumers. In 2025, they are opening accounts, applying for loans, and shaping the future of banking in real time.
For financial institution executives and tech leaders, the key question isn’t whether Gen-Z will impact strategy, but how. The ATM is one area in which Gen-Z influence can be felt right now.
Gen-Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, are no longer just “emerging” consumers. In 2025, they are opening accounts, applying for loans, and shaping the future of banking in real time.
For financial institution executives and tech leaders, the key question isn’t whether Gen-Z will impact strategy, but how. The ATM is one area in which Gen-Z influence can be felt right now.
Often dismissed as a “legacy channel,” ATMs still play a critical role in shaping brand perception. For Gen-Z, these machines aren’t just about cash. They’re about trust, convenience, and connection. Read on to learn what these young consumers and account holders expect from the experience at the ATM, how they are using cash today, and what financial institutions can do to align offerings with Gen-Z financial services demand.
ATM Access Still Matters to Gen-Z
Despite their digital-first lifestyles, Gen-Z in 2025 places a surprising emphasis on physical ATM access. According to eMarketer, 42% of Gen-Z consumers consider ATM proximity when choosing a bank, compared to just 29% who prioritize branch proximity.
This reveals an important insight: even as they prefer mobile apps and digital wallets, Gen-Z expects their institution to provide a reliable physical safety net. When they need quick access to cash or services, ATMs remain the go-to channel.
ATMs Help Young Account Holders Where Apps Don’t
Gen-Z are unquestionably tech-savvy and digital-first, yet ATMs remain essential when digital options fall short, whether during outages and emergencies, cash-only scenarios, or for budgeting strategies. In fact, The New York Post and The Guardian have both reported on Gen-Z’s unique cash habits like “cash stuffing” and “cash-only weekends,” which highlight how this generation still uses cash as a tool for budgeting and financial discipline (NY Post; The Guardian).
The Future of ATM Self-Service: Digital Integration is Non-Negotiable
Gen-Z wants more than just ATM availability. They want modern functionality. A recent report from the American Bankers Association (ABA) reveals that 64% of Gen-Z use mobile banking apps most often, far exceeding usage among older generations.
This digital-first banking behavior means they want ATMs to feel like app extensions. In 2025, Gen-Z expects ATMs to include:
- Contactless transactions for tap-to-withdraw
- Mobile app integration to start a withdrawal in-app, finish at the ATM
- Seamless design language, meaning interfaces that match mobile and online banking
- Fast, intuitive navigation without unnecessary screens
- Advanced transaction functionality, like bill pay and check deposits with cash back
When ATMs deliver these convenient, quick, and tech-forward experiences, they reinforce trust in the financial institution. Machines lacking the capabilities that Gen-Z expect risk frustrating these young consumers, who expect frictionless technology in any interaction with a business.
How Financial Institution Decision-Makers Can Modernize ATMs for Gen-Z in 2025
Today, the ATM channel should be more than an operational expense. With the right technology in place, ATMs are brand experience platforms. Gen-Z sees the ATM as part of the holistic service mix, not a relic. FIs can use the generation’s solid view of ATMs as an advantage,
Here are three ways financial institution leaders can act on these insights to deliver the ATM experiences young account holders want in 2025 and beyond:
- Position ATMs as Part of the Digital Banking Ecosystem
Don’t silo ATMs as a back-office cost center. Instead, integrate them into your digital roadmap. Make sure functionality aligns with your app and treat ATMs as customer experience assets.
- Invest in Modern ATM Features
Contactless transactions, cardless authentication, and app-to-ATM handoffs aren’t optional for Gen-Z. They are expectations. Prioritizing excellent ATM experiences today can position institutions for long-term relevance.
- Communicate ATM Value to Younger Consumers
Gen-Z wants transparency. Highlighting ATM capabilities, like cardless withdrawals and advanced transactions, demonstrates that your institution is investing in their convenience and security.
The ATM’s Role in the Gen-Z Banking Future
Gen-Z consumers may not visit ATMs as often as their parents, but when they do, the experience makes a lasting impression. This means the ATM is still a critical touchpoint in shaping loyalty and trust.
Financial institutions can transform the ATM channel from a cost of doing business into a competitive differentiator by aligning ATM strategies with Gen-Z’s digital-first mindset, demand for sleek self-service options, and expectation of modern convenience.
Get Technology to Supercharge Your ATM Channel
Ready to transform your ATM fleet with features and functionality that the youngest consumers demand? Read about EDGE CONNECT, our banking platform for enhanced ATMs and Advanced Account Access and call 800-423-EDGE (3343) for a strategic meeting to unlock the potential of your ATMs.