V&A Dundee announces exhibition celebrating the Dundee workforce that shaped global banking technology
Working at ‘The Cash’: 80 Years of NCR in Dundee
21 November 2026 – Early 2027
Michelin Design Gallery, V&A Dundee
V&A Dundee and NCR Atleos announce Working at ‘The Cash’: 80 Years of NCR in Dundee – a free exhibition exploring how the ingenuity of Dundee’s NCR workforce influenced the way we use and manage money all around the world.
Working at ‘The Cash’: 80 Years of NCR in Dundee tells the story of how NCR shaped global banking technology, the lives and culture of the local community, and how that legacy informs the future of banking today.
The American company was drawn to Dundee’s skilled workforce and excellent transport links and opened their first UK factory in Dundee in 1946. Originally producing cash registers, the company pivoted to designing, developing and manufacturing cutting-edge ATMS in the 1970s. This success gained NCR Dundee a reputation for innovation that continues to this day.
The person most often credited for inventing the ATM was a Scotsman named John Shepherd-Barron OBE. Around the same time, a fellow Scotsman James Goodfellow OBE invented the personal identification number (PIN), which helped self-service banking technology take off.
Throughout the ATM’s almost 60-year history, NCR has been at the heart of its continued evolution.
The exhibition will showcase how design from Dundee is being exported to the rest of the world through new banking and retail technology. Exploring the shift from physical cash to digital banking, the exhibition questions what financial services will look like next and how NCR Atleos in Dundee will continue to influence this journey.
Historically referred to as ‘The Cash’ by employees, NCR's presence in Dundee has shaped the lives and culture of generations of Dundonians.
Through photography, film and archival objects, Working at the Cash: 80 Years of NCR in Dundee will tell the stories of the people who make NCR Atleos in Dundee what it is. From Jim Adamson – the man who saved the company from the brink of closure in the ‘80s – to Dundee’s longest serving employee of 47 years. The exhibition will also celebrate how the company matched its talent for innovation with an unrivalled reputation for lively social clubs and Christmas parties.
Today, NCR Atleos in Dundee stands as a testament to the city's rich industrial heritage, and the exhibition will celebrate its ongoing role in shaping the future of financial technology.
Denise Leadingham, CVP Engineering and site lead at NCR Atleos Dundee, said: “We are delighted that NCR Atleos will be the focus of the next exhibition at V&A Dundee, celebrating 80 years of innovation, ingenuity and impact in the city. What started in Dundee eight decades ago has grown into a global story of achievement, shaped by generations of talented people whose work has helped transform the way consumers access and manage their money. We are incredibly proud of that legacy, and equally proud of our continued dedication to Dundee as we build on this remarkable heritage and help shape the future of financial services from here in the city.”
Svetlana Panova, Assistant Curator at V&A Dundee, said: “I am incredibly excited to celebrate 80 years of NCR at V&A Dundee. NCR’s history in Dundee is not only a design success story but a story of its people – a legacy based on trust, timely problem solving and fostering long-standing relationships that continue to shape the company today. NCR Dundee has influenced how we access money on a global scale and we are proud to share this story with V&A Dundee visitors.”