July 17 – ATMIA today released a statement questioning Visa Inc’s “Cashless Challenge” campaign. Visa’s July 12 press release outlines its plans to award up to $500,000 to 50 eligible U.S.-based small business food services if they go cashless.
“By paying these food service owners $10,000 to reduce their customers’ payment choices, Visa Inc has elevated its commercial interests above the public interest in America,” said Mike Lee, CEO of ATMIA. “This may seem to Visa like an offer that can’t be refused, but these money ‘rewards’ actually send out a message that the underlying business proposition must be unpalatable to both consumers and merchants when stripped of its $10,000 sweetener.”
ATMIA noted that it “remains committed to a fair policy of payment choice throughout the world, whereby any citizen can choose to pay for goods and services using a card, mobile wallet, online banking or cash, whichever payment method is convenient and pleasing for him or her at that particular point in time.”
It accused Visa of “attempting to reduce payment choice… paving the way towards a Big Brother society of surveillance in which human freedom is gradually eroded by powerful interests intent on diminishing privacy and free choice.”
Lee added, “One must ask, whatever happened to the guiding principles of the free market, transparent competition and consumer rights? Cash is still the most universal, popular and convenient form of payment in the world today and to deny the right to use it is an insult to millions of Americans who use cash, as well as a deal-breaker for those who only use cash. This constitutes digital discrimination and bad industry practice. Societies should cater to all their citizens, including the unbanked, underbanked and the digitally disadvantaged. Attempting to buy loyalty in this crude manner will never triumph over basic freedom of choice.”
About ATMIA www.atmia.com
ATMIA is a non-profit trade association representing the ATM industry. ATMIA serves more than 10,000 members from over 650 participating companies in 67 countries spanning the whole ATM ecosphere, including financial institutions, independent ATM deployers, equipment manufacturers, processors and a plethora of ATM service and value-added solution providers. ATMIA provides education, advocacy and connections to help its members keep abreast of industry news and developments; increase knowledge and professionalism; improve operational efficiencies; understand and influence regulatory processes; participate in the local, regional and global ATM community; and forge new relationships to advance their businesses.







