Overview
- Pressing the red abort button stops an ongoing transaction and causes the card to be returned immediately.
- Banking groups state that at ATMs run by banks and savings banks in Germany, removing the card ends the session, so hitting abort afterward has no additional effect.
- Consumers are advised to cancel the transaction if they feel watched, approached or distracted during a withdrawal.
- Procedures can differ at third‑party or foreign ATMs, so using the abort button after receiving card and cash is a harmless extra precaution when unsure.
- Authorities highlight recurring cash trapping and skimming, urging users to inspect the dispenser and card slot, shield the PIN, stay at the machine if cash fails to appear, and contact bank staff or police.