Tillie the All-Time Teller explained

Type:Automated teller machine
Company:First National Bank of Atlanta
Available:Discontinued

Tillie the All-Time Teller was one of the first ATMs,[1] run by the First National Bank of Atlanta and considered to be one of the most successful ATMs in the banking industry. Tillie the All-Time Teller had a picture of a smiling blonde girl on the front of the machine to suggest it was user-friendly, had an apparent personality,[2] and could greet people by name.[3] Many banks hired women dressed as this person to show their customers how to use Tillie the All-Time Teller.

History

It was introduced by the First National Bank of Atlanta on May 15, 1974. It started out at only eleven locations.[4] They were in commerce starting May 20, 1974.[5] Starting 1977, other banks purchased rights to use Tillie the All-Time Teller as their ATM system. By March 21, 1981, they were available at 70 locations,[6] including on a college campus.[7] On October 15, 2013, Susan Bennett revealed that she played the voice for Tillie the All-Time Teller, noting that she "started [her] life as a machine quite young."[8]

Appearance

Tillie the All-Time Teller machines were red and gold to make them look more attractive. On the bottom left was the place to enter an "access card," which featured a cartoon character. Above that was a place to enter a "secret code" that the customer chose. On the bottom center was a picture of a cartoon blonde girl with china-blue eyes and a red hat. Above that was the place it handed out cash and coins. On the top right was the place to enter a desired amount of money.

How it worked

Customers could use Tillie the All-Time Teller by following these steps:

  1. Inserting an "Alltime Tellercard"
  2. Following instructions presented on its TV screen
  3. Entering a "secret code" and entering a desired amount of money on the "money keyboard" ($200 was the limit)
  4. The machine would automatically hand out the desired amount of money.
  5. Entering a transaction envelope into the deposit slot

Advertising

There were a variety of advertisements made by the First National Bank of Atlanta in order to promote Tillie the All-Time Teller. These include:

In popular culture

The word "Tillie" has become a slang to describe any ATM.[10]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: King. Wayde. The automatic bank tellers are here. 19 August 2015. N.Y. Times News Service. The Dispatch. May 19, 1976.
  2. Book: Computer Digest, Volumes 9-11. 1974. American Data Processing. 406. 16 August 2015.
  3. Book: Grayson. Richard. University Drive. February 13, 2015. Lulu.com. 978-1312917668. 49. 16 August 2015.
  4. Web site: On May 15, 1974First National Bank of Atlanta (now part of Wells Fargo) introduced eleven new automated teller machines to customers.. Google+. Wells Fargo. 20 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422235006/https://plus.google.com/+wellsfargo/posts/ALbSJDXxEy8. 22 April 2016.
  5. Web site: Tillie the Alltime Teller. United States Patent Office. 29 August 2015.
  6. News: 3. Hour Convenience Of Tillie The Alltime Teller At 70 Locations. 29 August 2015.
  7. Web site: In Fact, You're Going to Love Me 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year.
  8. News: Ravitz. Jennifer. 'I'm the original voice of Siri'. 15 August 2015. CNN. October 15, 2013.
  9. Web site: Dub Rogers - KLBK Archival Footage, no. 9 - American State Bank. Texas Archive of the Moving Image.
  10. Web site: Billips. Mike. Since '78, Atlanta lost banks, but not economic power. Atlanta Business Chronicle. 29 August 2015.

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