In one of the series’ most famous episodes, Seinfeld aired, in 1998, a hilarious critique of one of our most common accessories: the wallet. George’s wallet, overstuffed with receipts, cards, and bills, is so thick that it causes him severe back pain, due to his constant leaning. But the discomfort and awkwardness doesn’t stop there: George loses an important receipt when his wallet bursts open and papers flutter away. Meanwhile, Jerry regrets having to use a carryall to hold all his stuff, as he finds it cumbersome and—to put it diplomatically—the bag doesn’t quite match his style. It being Seinfeld, these scenes are played as gags, but both Jerry and George have their own valid points: Why should we have to give up important papers in the name of slimming down, and why should we have to sacrifice convenience and comfort in the name of having everything on hand?
Twenty years later, we’re now at a point where both of these questions can be resolved. Cardless technologies, such as Near-Field Communication, or NFC for short, are promising and widely available in today’s consumer electronics. Basically, NFC allows two computers to communicate just by being near each other—so you can immediately see why it comes in handy for personal transactions or sending money to a friend or business nearby. Some of the first implementations of NFC were in mobile-payment systems that allow users to store card information on a smartphone and pay without the use of card—some of the most popular being Apple Pay ®, Google Pay™, and Samsung Pay.
Such technology eliminates most of the scenarios you might need to use your bank card, but it alone might not be enough to convince you to leave your wallet at home. But now, the use of NFC tech is being expanded so that just your phone is enough. Chase’s Cardless ATM Access, for example, allows Chase customers to access their accounts at ATMs without needing their debit cards—at all.
The steps are simple—perhaps even easier than they are when using your card: first, add your Chase card into your mobile wallet app. There are two ways to add your card; through the Chase Mobile ® app or through your phone’s mobile wallet. When your card is added to your mobile wallet, open up your mobile wallet app, select your card, and hold it against the ATM’s cardless symbol. Depending on your phone’s security software, you may need to unlock the card with your passcode, fingerprint or face. Then enter your PIN and complete your transaction as usual—all with no card required.
But only going halfway with NFC doesn’t make sense—enabling it for transactions but not for cash withdrawals means we still have to carry our cards around. This next innovation in cardless technology means we can finally leave our cards at home, holding their information instead in our ubiquitous and secure smartphones. That’s good news for George’s back—and his financial security.
Cardless ATM access can be used for Chase consumer debit cards (excluding CPC Privileges card), business debit cards (excluding Business Associate cards) and Chase Liquid® cards added to Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay. Use at Chase ATMs where you see the Cardless symbol.
Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Pay, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Google Pay and the Google Pay Logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Google Pay works on Android devices running Android Lollipop 5.0 or above.
Samsung and Samsung Pay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Use only in accordance with law. Screen images are simulated; actual appearance may vary. Samsung Pay is available on select Samsung devices.
The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
Debit cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC