Around midnight awhile back my girlfriend and I were visiting a Wachovia ATM which is located inside one of their branches and is protected by one of those card reading slots which you have to insert your ATM card in order for the door to be unlocked.
A friend that was with us asked “What if I’m another bank’s customer and just wanted to use the ATM?” which was a valid question so we tried using her Bank of America card to see if it worked and it sure does.
Next we started trying various other cards, such as Starbucks gift cards and NYC Metrocards (train fare cards) and they all worked! We should’ve tried a card without a magnetic strip just to see if literally anything that fits into that slot works.
So the next time you’re using an ATM inside a bank’s branch late at night, don’t assume that only people with that bank’s card can get through those doors. Also good to know if you ever get chased by wild animals and a need a place to hide.
Also note this isn’t only a Wachovia deal. A quick test at the HSBC branch next door revealed that they used the exact same card reading slot required to get in the door.
