[davb]

1) I agree - I think this is a regional thing. In the UK, ATMs almost always lock the card in place (typical non-corner-store ones take the entire card into the machine).

2) In the UK, most machines make you take the card out before dispensing the banknotes. Bank-owned (non-corner-shop) ATMs "spit out" the card and beep until you take the card. Only then do they dispense the cash.

3) I don't think many UK card issuers use multiple applications for the same context. That is to say, if you put your card into an ATM, only one application is likely to be compatible with that profile. There may be other applications for travel (ITSO, for example, is a travel card standard built on Global Platform). I think every EMV terminal has support for application selection menus (usually in the form of little buttons along the side of the screen) but they're virtually never used in the UK.

In my experience while travelling, US payment terminals are the most unusual.

[rbobby]

Same in Canada... gotta take the card and then the money comes out. Nice thing is that you never forget your card in a machine :)

[davb]

Yeah. And if you do happen to enter you PIN, request cash then just walk away, the machine will furiously beep for a short time then pull the card back in ("swallow the card").

You've then got to request a replacement card from your issuer but it does limit the chance of a stranger coming along and retrieving the forgotten card and attempting to use it (for a signature fall-back transaction after damaging the chip, or for a cardholder not present - CNP - transaction).

Bank-operated ATMs will also often retain the card if it's been reported lost or stolen, but this does rob the lucky/brave checkout operator of their £50 bonus if they happen to retain a stolen card that's been used in store.