Gallego Celebrate Passage of Bill to Protect American’s Access to ATMs

WASHINGTON — This week, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) celebrated the Senate unanimously passing his bipartisan legislation to crack down on ATM crime. The Safe Access to Cash Act will make sure that federal penalties that are in place for bank robberies apply to off-site ATM robberies. “As bank branches reduce their physical footprint, ATMs remain key for allowing families and business to access their accounts. But criminals have figured out that standalone ATMs are easier targets than banks and, under the current law, these robberies aren’t treated the same as bank robberies.” said Senator Gallego. “We’re now one step closer to safeguarding Americans’ financial security from these threats, and I urge the House to immediately pass this bill and send it to the president’s desk.” Robbers and thieves are increasingly targeting ATMs, with theft rates rising dramatically each year since 2019. ATMs can be robbed in as little as three minutes and may hold as much as $250,000. However, the Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 currently only protects banks and financial institutions, not standalone ATMs in malls, convenience stores, and public locations. The Safe Access to Cash Act ensures that robberies involving off-site ATMs receive federal penalties equal to those imposed for on-site robberies of financial institutions. Read the full legislation HERE .