Move over, direct deposit. Sarasota dogs just got their own ATM, and the only required identification is a good paw.
On Friday, the Clark Road branch of TD Bank will turn into a doggy block party to celebrate the launch of Sarasota’s first Dog ATM. From 1 to 4 p.m., the parking lot will be buzzing with a DJ, a caricaturist sketching floppy ears and wet noses, an adopt-a-dog station, cookies from Three Dog Bakery, human desserts from Mellow Mushroom and giveaways for both humans and their four-legged companions.
The ATM itself is part of a 14-location rollout. There’s no card slot—instead, a paw-print mat sits at the base of the machine. When a dog steps on it, a biscuit drops out, no hidden fees attached. On the screen, looping dog-centric videos—rolling tennis balls, hummingbirds, other pups—are designed to entertain the canine mind. Even the instructions mimic a standard ATM prompt, replacing “Insert card to begin” with “Step on pad for a treat.”
“It’s a very fun and joyful experience,” says Boris Ayala, retail market president for North Florida at TD Bank. “The dogs get excited because, after a couple of visits, they know.”…