A quick look at Revolut's sleek black ATMs

Revolut ATMs are still somewhat of a rare sight, but the neobank has quite a few of these machines in operation around Barcelona, Spain. We tried one at a Westfield mall in the northern part of the city, where its large display and sleek black exterior immediately stood out.

That exterior also poses a problem, though, since the keypad is black too. When entering our PIN, we initially struggled to find the confirmation button. The button can be identified by touch, however. Interestingly, blind users have an advantage here. Otherwise, the ATM works flawlessly and offers services that other banks do not provide at their machines. These include ordering a replacement card with no shipping fee. Users who log in with their smartphone or use EMV card emulation over NFC can therefore get a replacement card quickly in an emergency.

The latter works because the ATM has a contactless EMV reader that users can tap with their card. There is no need to insert it into a slot, although that remains an option. Simply tap the card and enter the PIN. Anyone with a special edition Revolut payment card can therefore leave it in its protective sleeve. Contactless EMV readers, recognizable by their wave symbol, are becoming more common at ATMs, but they are still far from standard in other European countries such as Germany. They generally also work with Apple Pay, provided the user knows the PIN for the underlying card. That is a little odd, since payment terminals in stores do not ask for it. So far, however, we have always had to enter a PIN when using card emulation at ATMs, including those operated by other banks.

Our cash withdrawal was free. We withdrew €50, although that amount counts toward the withdrawal limit under the card's terms. The ATM can also quickly display an account balance using a card and PIN. The large touchscreen makes it easy to use, and numerous language options are available. That does not make the ATM accessible, however. Users need to be tall enough to reach the controls. Revolut does offer accessibility options, though.

Aside from a few accessibility shortcomings, particularly with the controls, we liked the ATM a lot. It shows where modern ATMs could be headed. Revolut account holders in a major Spanish city may find these machines worth seeking out. Revolut's own ATMs are marked with a large R in the ATM finder.