A routine stop at the ATM turned into a shocking ordeal for dozens of PNC Bank customers Friday morning, after several machines across the city began dispensing cash stained with blue dye, normally used by banks to mark stolen money.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion and disbelief as customers withdrew their cash only to find it soaked in dye, leaving their hands and wallets tinted a faint cobalt color. The strange incident sparked immediate concern that the machines had been compromised—or that the money had somehow been mixed with bills from a security dye pack explosion.
“I thought it was some kind of prank,” said Angela R., a local teacher who visited the PNC ATM on Liberty Avenue around 9:00 a.m. “The bills were wet and bluish. My fingers were stained. I went straight inside the branch, and they looked as shocked as I was.”
Bank Response and Investigation
By midday, PNC Bank had shut down over 20 ATMs across western Pennsylvania while technicians and investigators tried to determine the cause. In a statement issued to the press, the bank confirmed that “a limited number of ATM locations dispensed currency contaminated by a dye security mechanism,” but emphasized that “no customers are at financial risk.”
“We are working closely with law enforcement and our cash distribution partners to identify how this contamination occurred,” said Lisa Thornton, spokesperson for PNC.
“Customers who received affected bills will be fully reimbursed upon verification.”
Local police confirmed that the blue dye appears consistent with the type used in anti-theft ink packs—devices designed to explode and stain cash during a robbery or unauthorized removal from a secured container. Investigators are exploring whether a damaged cash cassette or a mishandled armored transport delivery may have introduced the marked bills into circulation.
Customer Panic and Online Buzz
Within hours, photos of blue-stained cash began circulating across social media platforms under the hashtag #BlueMoney, with users posting their experiences and speculating about possible causes. Some joked about “washing” their money, while others worried about potential legal consequences of carrying marked bills.
“I went to pay for groceries, and the cashier just stared at the money,” said David Chen, another PNC customer. “She refused to take it—she thought it was stolen. It was embarrassing.”
Financial experts warned customers not to attempt to spend or clean the affected money, as dyed bills are automatically flagged by retailers and other banks as potentially stolen currency.
Experts Weigh In
Former bank security officer Michael Delaney explained that dye contamination is rare but serious:
“If a cash delivery bag’s dye pack accidentally goes off or leaks, every bill inside becomes suspect. That money must be pulled, verified, and destroyed. The fact that dyed cash reached ATMs suggests a major breakdown in handling or oversight.”
Delaney noted that PNC’s incident could lead to a temporary suspension of certain ATM routes while investigators trace the source.