What a Woman Did When an ATM Kept Throwing Cash at Her

'It was like something out of a movie': Kristina Edwards, who returned her $380 windfall
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 7, 2016 8:45 AM CDT
A Single Mom's Reaction to a Money-Spewing ATM
If it seems too good to be true ... it probably is.   (Getty Images)

The public might not be too happy with Wells Fargo right now, but Wells Fargo has good reason to be happy with one particular member of the public, per the AP. Pennsylvania's Kristina Edwards found herself in an awkward but potentially lucrative situation Sunday morning when one of the bank's ATMs in Glenolden started spitting money out at her, the Delaware County Daily Times reports. The single 35-year-old mom of two had pulled up to a drive-thru machine to take out $60 for the supermarket, but instead of three crisp $20s, the ATM kept them coming in multiples for about 30 seconds out of a second slot meant for deposits. By the time the generous money-dispensing slot closed, Edwards had $380 in hand—and she knew she didn't have enough in her account to justify the payout. "I panicked," she says. "It was like something out of a movie."

She asked the driver who'd been in front of her if the money was his (it wasn't). And when she called the bank's 800 number, the person on the other end told her just to take it back to the branch when it reopened the next day. And so she did, without much of a question in her mind. "I know what it's like to struggle with money," she tells Fox 29. "$380 is a lot of money to a lot of people." Edwards said she was informed the cash would be deposited into a bank fund. The most disappointing part of her experience: She said no one at the branch even offered a thank-you when she brought the money back, though a corporate rep says the bank is indeed "grateful." (Service member's take on Wells Fargo's car seizures: "It sucks.")

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X