Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026

Ted Cruz

Republican · TX · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)Original· 2026-02-05
• Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)· 2026-03-05

Held at the desk.

2026-10-05

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would require banks and financial institutions to maintain adequate access to cash for customers, making it illegal for them to eliminate in-person teller services or ATMs in ways that deny people reasonable access to their own money. The law aims to protect consumers—especially elderly people, rural residents, and those without reliable internet access—from being forced into digital-only banking when they prefer or need to use physical cash. It addresses concerns that some banks have been closing branches and removing ATMs, which can make it difficult for certain groups to withdraw and deposit money safely.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3798 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3798 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal offenses with respect to violations involving ATMs, regardless of whether the ATM is located on the physical premises of a financial institution, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. OFFENSES RELATED TO ATM ROBBERY AND INCIDENTAL CRIMES. (a) In General.--Chapter 103 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2113 the following: ``Sec. 2113A. ATM robbery and incidental crimes ``(a) Offenses Against ATM Users and Servicers.--Whoever, by force or violence, or by intimidation, takes, or attempts to take, any property or money or any other thing of value from any person using or servicing, or attempting to use or service, an ATM, or who extorts or attempts to obtain by extortion, any property or money or any other thing of value from any such person, where the offense is committed in direct and immediate connection with such use or service, or from any owner or operator of any ATM, while knowing that such person is engaged in transporting or delivering property to be loaded into such ATM, or from any person, knowing such person to be engaged in the transport or delivery of property to be loaded into such ATM, pursuant to a contract with, or employment by, such owner or operator, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. ``(b) Offenses Against Property.-- ``(1) Offenses exceeding $1,000.--Whoever breaks into, tampers with, damages, removes, or steals any ATM without authorization of the owner or operator of any such ATM, and removes, with intent to steal or purloin, any property or money from any such ATM exceeding $1,000, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. ``(2) Offenses not exceeding $1,000.--Whoever breaks into, tampers with, damages, removes, or steals any ATM without authorization of the owner or operator of any such ATM, and removes, with intent to steal or purloin, any property or money from any such ATM not exceeding $1,000, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. ``(c) Receipt, Possession, Concealment, Storage, Barter, Sale, or Disposal of Property Acquired Unlawfully Under This Section.--Whoever receives, possesses, conceals, stores, barters, sells, or disposes of, any property or money or other thing of value that has been taken in violation of subsection (b), knowing the same to be property that has been unlawfully taken, shall be subject to the punishment provided in subsection (b), as applicable, for the taker. ``(d) Assault in Connection With Offenses.--Whoever, in committing, or in attempting to commit, any offense defined in subsection (a) or (b), forcibly assaults any person, or puts in jeopardy the life of any person by the use of a dangerous weapon or device, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both. ``(e) Killing or Forced Accompaniment in Connection With Offenses.--Whoever, in committing any offense defined in this section, or in avoiding or attempting to avoid apprehension for the commission of such offense, or in freeing himself or attempting to free himself from arrest or confinement for such offense, kills any person, or forces any person to accompany the offender…

without the consent of such person, shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years, or, if death results, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or life. ``(f) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) ATM.--The term `ATM'-- ``(A) means any network-connected automated teller machine terminal that is connected to 1 or more of the global, national, or regional electronic financial networks that allow a depositor of any bank, credit union, or savings and loan association, by use at such automated teller machine of a card or other access device, as defined in section 1029(e)(1), issued or authorized by such depository institution, to access the account of the depositor for the purpose of making withdrawals from or deposits to such account, or making inquiry as to the balance in such account; and ``(B) includes any automated teller machine owned, operated, or sponsored by a bank, credit union, or any savings and loan association, regardless of whether-- ``(i) the automated teller machine is located on the physical premises of such an institution; or ``(ii) the automated teller machine is owned or operated by such an institution. ``(2) Bank; credit union; savings and loan association.-- The terms `bank', `credit union', and `savings and loan association' have the meanings given those terms in section 2113.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 103 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2113 the following: ``2113A. ATM robbery and incidental crimes.''. Passed the Senate September 30, 2026. Attest: Secretary. 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3798 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal offenses with respect to violations involving ATMs, regardless of whether the ATM is located on the physical premises of a financial institution, and for other purposes.

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