Carr Leads 15-State Coalition Urging Congress to Strengthen Federal Penalties for ATM Robberies

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr is leading a 15-state coalition in urging Congress to pass the Safe Access to Cash Act (S. 3798/H.R. 1631), critical legislation that would help to prosecute the organized crime rings that are robbing ATMs nationwide.

Currently, federal law provides strong penalties for robberies involving banks and financial institutions, but it does not provide the same consistent protection for ATMs, particularly those located away from bank branches. The Safe Access to Cash Act would modernize the Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 to ensure crimes involving off-site and standalone ATMs can be prosecuted as federal offenses, including those located at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, malls, and other community locations.

“We have to ensure our officers and prosecutors have the tools they need to address new and emerging threats, and that includes the organized crime rings that are targeting ATMs nationwide,” said Carr. “For many seniors and rural residents, the nearest ATM is at the gas station or convenience store, but these continued attacks are putting lives and livelihoods at risk. That’s why we’re pushing for this commonsense legislation that will help to combat these criminal networks – protecting small businesses and consumers.”

The Safe Access to Cash Act would complement the work of state and local law enforcement by creating a clear and consistent framework for prosecutions when ATM crimes involve interstate conduct, organized criminal networks, or repeated attacks across multiple jurisdictions. This bill would also close the loophole in federal law for robbing a person who is using an ATM by covering ATM theft and destruction, as well as adding additional criminal penalties – ensuring that off premises ATMs in public settings are treated the same as bank branch ATMs.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced the Safe Access to Cash Act in March 2026.

This Georgia-led effort was also joined by the attorneys general of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

Read a copy of the letter (PDF, 326.79 KB) .