What Every New ATM Operator Needs to Know

The Accidental ATM Business with Burt Matthews

Burt Matthews didn’t set out to build an ATM business. What started as a simple gas station venture turned into something much bigger after a bank rejected his request for an ATM and forced him to figure it out on his own. In this episode, Burt shares how those early decisions led to the creation of NextATM, which has grown into a nationwide ATM service and technology organization, along with stories from the early days when there was no real “industry” to lean on. Rhet and Burt also dig into how the ATM space has evolved over the past 25 years, from dial-up machines and manual routes to today’s connected, automated fleets. Along the way, Burt shares practical lessons for operators looking to grow, including why focusing on the customer matters more than anything else and how thinking bigger is often the difference between staying small and building something that lasts.

Live from ATMIA: Cash Isn’t Dead, but the ATM Must Evolve

In this live episode from ATMIA, Erik Flees, Director of Customer Service at Hyosung, and Dax Matthews, EVP at eGlobal, break down what shrinking transaction counts, rising costs, and digital banking growth mean for retail ATM operators. They share real pilot results from multi function ATMs and explain how services like bill break and cash to digital can reshape the revenue model. If you operate ATMs today, this episode outlines where the industry is headed and how to adapt.

Are Trade Shows Worth It or Just an Expensive Habit?

Trade shows are expensive, exhausting, and somehow unavoidable in the ATM industry. Some operators swear by them. Others leave wondering what they actually got for their money.   In this episode of The ATM Forward Podcast, host Rhet Needham sits down with Cooper Frandsen, EVP at Tetralink and former EVP at NextATM, to break down the real return on trade shows from every angle.

What Every New ATM Operator Needs to Know

Getting into the ATM business sounds simple until you realize how many moving parts are behind each transaction. In this episode, Rhet and returning guest Jon Christiansen break down the essentials for new operators, from processors and programming to hardware basics, cash management, and risk protection. If you’re starting out and want to avoid costly mistakes, this is the episode to hear

Live From NAC 2025!

Recorded live at NAC 2025 in Las Vegas, the ATM Forward team hits the show floor to explore the newest technology shaping the ATM industry. Hear from leaders at Hyosung, Maya, OptConnect, and Genmega as they share what’s next for payments, connectivity, and kiosk innovation. Whether you’re an operator or industry partner, this quick episode gives you a front-row look at the future of self-service banking.