Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in United States or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
I usually stick to using ATMs in the morning just to keep things simple. During my solo trip to Los Angeles in May I stayed near Venice Beach and I avoided all ATMs after 8 PM just because some areas get sketchy fast. I had a Visa debit card from Brazil and used it only at Citibank and Chase branch ATMs during the day. One of the hostel staff even warned me not to use the ATM outside 7 Eleven after dark because people had reported suspicious activity. Better safe than sorry. I also started using contactless payments more so I barely needed cash most of the time
I was in Portland and Austin this April and felt relatively safe even when I needed to use an ATM late evening. But I planned ahead so I didn’t have to rely on random machines. I used the Allpoint ATM network because my bank back home in Ireland partners with them and I found that most of those are located inside CVS or Walgreens stores. One night around 11 PM I went to a Walgreens in downtown Austin and used their indoor ATM without a problem. There were still people shopping and bright lights so I never felt unsafe. I would not recommend using ATMs attached to gas stations or in empty parking lots after dark though
In my experience in New York City and San Diego I used ATMs late at night and never had an issue but I was careful about where I did it. I used an HSBC card from the UK and only withdrew money from ATMs located inside big hotels or at airports. For example the Bank of America ATM at Grand Central was well lit with people around and felt totally safe even at midnight. I avoided corner store or gas station ATMs after sunset just to stay cautious. Use common sense and trust your instincts if an area looks deserted or shady just walk away
I traveled solo across the US this spring including stops in Boston Washington DC and Atlanta and I made it a point to only use ATMs during the day. There were plenty of Chase and Bank of America branches near my hostels and those usually have lobby ATMs that you can access with your card even after business hours. I did once withdraw money at around 10 PM in DC near U Street using a Wells Fargo lobby ATM and it felt safe because there was security outside and a camera above. But generally I felt more comfortable doing all my withdrawals before dark. As someone traveling alone I say plan ahead and avoid standing alone near street ATMs at night especially in quieter neighborhoods