First ATM Arrives
On June 27, 1967, Barclays Bank revolutionized banking by installing the world’s first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Enfield, London. Developed by John Shepherd-Barron, the ATM allowed customers to withdraw up to £10 in cash, even beyond regular banking hours. Twelve years later, Worker’s Bank introduced the first ATM in Trinidad and Tobago. It was affectionately known as “the Mary Anne,” inspired by the chorus from a 1945 calypso by the Roaring Lion. Soon other banks followed suit, transforming the way people access their finances in Trinidad and Tobago.
British Comedian, Reg Varney, Examining a Bank Note as he Officially Opens the ATM at the Barclays Bank in Einfield, London
Fast forward to 2023, and Historic England recognized the Enfield branch of Barclays Bank as the birthplace of this financial marvel. The building’s architectural design also contributed to its inclusion in the National Heritage List for England.
Meanwhile, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Worker’s Bank introduced its own ATM in 1979—the “Mary Anne All Day All Night Service.” Customers enjoyed round-the-clock access to withdrawals, deposits, fund transfers, and loan payments. The name of the service came from a 1945 calypso by the Roaring Lion with the chorus,
“All day, all night, Miss Mary Anne
Down by the seaside, she’s sifting sand.”
The chorus was used in the commercials promoting the service. The ATM affectionately became known as “the Mary Anne” and the name “MARY ANNE” was brightly illuminated atop the Worker’s Bank headquarters in Duncan Street, Port of Spain.
The Sign on Top of the Worker’s Bank Building
Gladston Cuffie (former Corporate Manager at First Citizens) using the Mary Anne
It took a long while for the more established banks to adopt the new technology. Seven years later in 1986, Republic Bank installed its first ATM at its branch in Park Street, Port of Spain. Around that time, other banks across the country joined the trend. As of 2021, Trinidad and Tobago boasted a total of 4,096 ATMs, transforming the way people access their finances.
References
Waterman, Kathy Ann (2007). First Citizens: On Becoming First. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: First Citizens Bank Limited.
Note
In 1993, Worker’s Bank was merged with the National Commercial Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad Co-operative Bank to form First Citizens Bank Limited
