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New Federal ATM Theft and Assault Law

Full Title:
Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill creates a new federal crime specifically for robberies and related offenses that involve automated teller machines (ATMs). It sets new penalties for attacking or stealing from people using or servicing ATMs, for breaking into or damaging ATMs, and for possessing property taken from ATMs. The bill also slightly broadens the existing federal bank-robbery law to cover conspiracies and changes wording about force.

  • Main change: Adds a new federal statute that covers crimes against ATM users, servicers, owners, operators, and people transporting cash for ATMs, whether or not the ATM is on bank premises.
  • New penalties for attacks on persons at ATMs: Up to 20 years in prison for taking or attempting to take property from a person using or servicing an ATM (with higher penalties if assault, weapon use, or killing occurs).
  • New property offenses: Up to 10 years if stolen property or damage from an ATM exceeds $1,000; up to 1 year for amounts $1,000 or less.
  • Covers possession and sale: Receiving or selling property known to be taken from an ATM is punishable under the same scale.
  • Definitions: “ATM” is defined to mean network-connected teller machines that let bank depositors access accounts; the definition includes machines owned or operated by banks even if off bank premises.
  • Amendment to existing law: The bank-robbery statute’s wording is changed from “force and violence” to “force or violence” and adds coverage for conspiracies.

What it means for you#

  • ATM users (public): Attacks, robberies, or extortion tied to using an ATM can be prosecuted under a new federal crime, potentially carrying long prison terms if violence is involved.
  • ATM servicers and cash couriers (technicians, armored-car staff): People who service ATMs or transport cash to and from ATMs are explicitly protected by the law while working and may be covered when targeted.
  • ATM owners and operators (banks, credit unions, private operators): The bill makes crimes against their machines or their staff a federal offense, whether the machine sits inside a bank or at another location.
  • People who possess or trade stolen ATM cash or property: Knowing possession, sale, or disposal of items taken from ATMs can be punished under the same rules as the person who took them.
  • Local law enforcement and prosecutors: The bill creates a federal option for prosecuting ATM-related crimes; it may be used alongside state or local charges.
  • Businesses that host ATMs (retailers, malls): If an ATM on their premises is targeted, attack or theft connected to that ATM could be charged federally; their employees who service machines may be covered.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

  • This bill raises maximum federal penalties for several crimes, which could lead to more federal prosecutions and longer federal prison terms.
  • This could increase federal court, prosecution, detention, and prison costs, but the bill text does not include a cost estimate or fiscal note.
  • It is not clear whether the bill would change law-enforcement staffing, grant funding, or local government costs.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to extend federal protection to people using and servicing ATMs and to the machines themselves, even when machines are off bank property.
  • A possible argument for the bill is that it closes a gap where attacks on off-site ATMs or their workers were not clearly covered by federal bank-robbery law.
  • Making thefts and assaults involving ATMs federal offenses could be seen as increasing deterrence and protecting cash access and service workers.
  • The law treats possession or sale of property taken from ATMs as a serious offense, which could discourage markets for stolen ATM property.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is that the bill does not provide a public cost estimate; increasing federal penalties may raise prosecution and prison costs without a clear funding plan.
  • The law may overlap with existing state robbery and theft laws, raising questions about when federal prosecutions will be used instead of local ones.
  • It is unclear how broadly “in connection with such use or service” will be interpreted, which could affect when ordinary local thefts become federal cases.
  • The bill’s coverage depends on a definition of “ATM” tied to network connection; it is unclear whether some machines (for example, non-networked or rare types) would fall outside this federal protection.
  • The $1,000 threshold that separates the higher and lower property penalties may raise practical questions about charging decisions and whether small-value offenses should be federal.