This article is classified "Real"
Picture yourself as someone who's alone late at night when the streets are
empty, and the glow of the shop windows has died to a light flicker from the
one on the corner where a solitary light has been left running in the vain
hope that it might fool a burglar into thinking it's still occupied. If you
are already in this situation, stay with the image you're getting, provided
it is one of reality.
A problem to imagine, or be plagued with, at this point, is that of having
no money to do whatever you wish to do [1]. This is where a cash machine
can help you, providing, as it does, access to your funds, or potential
future funds, at the press of a button (or three), all the time (unless it's
broken).
The main "facility" comes in the form of a cash card, which is almost
without exception a credit-card sized plastic card, usually containing a
magnetic strip which holds information about its owner [2], which can be
inserted into many different cash machines at a variety [3] of banks, and
from there you must enter a PIN (Personal Identification Number) which will
"confirm" your identity. After this, you are able to request the amount of
money you wish to withdraw, and whatever other services the machine will
offer.
These other facilities are varied, and many will depend on you using a
machine that is owned by the particular bank you have your money in. The
most common extra is the ability to check the balance in your account, which
you can have printed on a small slip of paper or displayed on the screen,
though sometimes you may not have a choice. More recently, some machines
will actually allow you to have a mini-statement printed, showing all recent
transactions, or allow you to request that the bank will post one.
The reason that these machines are able to work all the time, is because of
the complex electronic computerised system inside, which is linked directly
to the relevant banks. They are not, as some have speculated, manned by
very patient dwarfs.
[1] It's usually a good idea to have a reason to spend money before spending
it, unless you are immensely rich, or know someone who is rich, and
immensely stupid.
[2] Possession is said to be 9/10ths of the law, but the relevant
institution will usually make sure that they still retain ownership.
[3] Many banks have agreements that allow people to use cash cards at
different banks.