Public Money ATM

In Poland, billions in public funds are spent each year with little citizen input. Participation in civic budgeting remains low, at just 11 percent. Mastercard, a brand rooted in financial inclusion, saw an opportunity to empower people where they already feel in control: at the ATM.

Public Money ATM lets citizens manage public funds just like they manage their personal funds, through the same machine they use every day.

Created with local governments, the initiative turned banking infrastructure into a democratic tool. Over 20 percent of ATM users their neighborhood machine to cast a vote to decide where public money should be invested, proving how behavior can shift when action is simple and familiar.

The project is now expanding across Poland. By making civic participation as accessible as checking your balance, Mastercard redefined engagement and positioned itself as a brand that connects financial tools with public impact.