Product Description

Just like the one at the bank! An ATM machine that works just like Dads. Help your child learn money management. Your kids will have their own secret PIN number as this machine dispenses allowances and savings responsibly. Use it to teach good money management skills. Your youngster can deposit allowance or birthday money into the machine, which is then set with the PIN of his choosing.

Each step is programmed to follow the logical sequence of a real ATM. The big screen welcomes you (yes, it knows your name) and gives you all your up-to-date account information as well. The camera and sounds make you feel as though you just pulled money out of a real bank. Measures: 5"x 12"x 13".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8170 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Summit
• Model: 13924
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.25 pounds

Features

• Toy ATM bank with motorized bill feeder.
• Realistic-looking security ATM bank camera
• Play bank sound effects
• Measures 12" x 4" x 10".
• Requires 3 "AA" batteries (not included).

Editorial Review
Accompanied by a "PowerCard" to record account information, this make-believe ATM machine features an electronic screen, an alpha-numeric keypad, and slots for cards, coins, and bills. Insert the card into the appropriate slot and enter a personal ID to get a personal greeting and an exact balance. You can also insert real dollar bills and coins, and the machine will add those amounts to the account. A cash drawer at the bottom pops open for withdrawals. The beeps, lights, and robotic voice resemble those one might find on a spaceship; it's almost as if you're withdrawing funds from the HAL 9000 rather than the ATM machine down the block. Also, the language seems a bit beyond the toy's target audience. ("Enter your name and secret PIN number for real personalized banking.") By the time children are old enough to use and understand this toy, it's possible they'll have outgrown it. The machine mounts easily to a wall, or you can set it on top of a dresser. --Andy Boynton

Customer Reviews

Better for the 8 and older kids
My daughter (9 years) was given this as a birthday gift and absolutely LOVED it! She has two younger sisters and so to be able to stash her cash in a secure place was very appealing. Some things I liked about it:
1. Any card will work as the "ATM" card to activate the machine
2. If the "PIN" number is forgotten, you just remove the batteries and it resets the machine so you can set a new PIN.
3. The slot for putting in your money is just like a vending machine. It doesn't sense the value of the bill so you have to enter the amount deposited manually.
4. If your child is diligent about entering the amount withdrawn when they take money out, the machine will keep a tally of your balance. For a child learning the value of money, this is a very cool feature.

Some things I didn't like about it:
1. There is a slot for depositing coins, which the machine CAN sense the value of. However, the coins go into the general compartment, and clank around within the compartment - would have been nice if the machine automatically put each type of coin into a certain slot.
2. The vending slot for depositing bills also just stuffs the money into the general compartment. You have to open the bank every so often to ensure the bills are not getting jammed up.

This is a great product for the money and I highly recommend it. It's probably better for kids 8 and up.

Update Nearly One Year Later (last review was from December 2004)....
Ok, so we finally had to change the batteries on this thing and of course the package instructions have long since been lost, which provide the manufacturer preset pin number. So after a few futile efforts to reset the pin, or at least get her hard earned savings out without breaking it open, we searched the internet for the manufacturer Summit Products Inc. web site to get another copy of the instructions. It was surprisingly VERY difficult to find. So you don't have to do the same leg work, here it is: www.summittoy.com. Once I got to their web site, finding and printing the instructions was quite easy and the atm is working like a champ again and my now 10 year old is quite happy!

A great tool!!
I purchased this for my almost 6 year old. He had no trouble figuring out how to use it and it works fairly well. It has helped him grasp the meaning of saving money to work toward a goal. It has also motivated him to want to save. He recently started receiving a weekly allowance. Now he is responsible for saving to buy toys that he wants. It has elimiated the "MOM, can I have this?" everytime we are out. After I told him a few times "Do you have money for it? Do you want to spend your money on it?" the begging has nearly disappeared! Highly recommended.
The only negatives I've found are:
1) The dollar bill intake does not always work - it can be circumvented by opening the safe and making a manual deposit
2) Sometimes when depositing coins, if the coin doesn't go in the slot on the first try, the bank will still register a deposit. This will throw the total off. Again, a manual adjustment can be made (but only if you are aware that there was a problem in the first place).

Really works
I like it a lot and it works great!!! But you need either crisp bills or you need to fold the bills. And the batteries are included. Overall it's great.So if you are looking for an ATM bank this is the one to get!!!