Name the inventor of the automated teller machine (ATM), the first of which was opened on 27 June 1967 by Barclays Bank in London.

Introduction / Context:
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) revolutionised everyday banking by allowing customers to withdraw cash and perform simple transactions without visiting a bank counter. General knowledge exams often ask about the inventor of the ATM and the year or bank involved in the first installation. This question focuses on correctly identifying the inventor whose idea led to the first ATM opened by Barclays Bank in London in 1967.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The invention is the automated teller machine (ATM).
• The first ATM was opened on 27 June 1967 by Barclays Bank in London.
• We must pick the inventor’s name from the options provided.
• Options include J. Shepherd-Barron, M. D. White, D. C. Wetzel, Wilfred Barron and John von Neumann.

Concept / Approach:
The recognised inventor linked with the first ATM installed by Barclays is John Shepherd-Barron, often abbreviated in quiz options as J. Shepherd-Barron. While other people later contributed to ATM technology, the standard GK association is that Shepherd-Barron’s concept of a cash-dispensing machine led to the first ATM. Therefore, we must match this name to the historical fact described in the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first widely acknowledged ATM was installed at a Barclays Bank branch in Enfield, London, in 1967. Step 2: Remember that John Shepherd-Barron is credited with devising the original idea of the cash-dispensing machine for this installation. Step 3: Look at the options and identify the one that clearly names Shepherd-Barron. Step 4: Recognise that M. D. White, D. C. Wetzel, Wilfred Barron and John von Neumann are not standard answers to the “ATM inventor” question. Step 5: Select “J. Shepherd-Barron” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple way to verify is to recall short exam-style statements such as “John Shepherd-Barron, a Scottish-born inventor, created the first ATM installed by Barclays Bank in 1967.” This fixed association is repeated in many banking awareness and general knowledge books. The other names either represent different scientists or are distractors constructed to resemble his name.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
M. D. White and D. C. Wetzel: Not widely recognised as inventors of the ATM in standard GK references.
Wilfred Barron: The surname resembles “Barron” from Shepherd-Barron, but this is not the established inventor’s name.
John von Neumann: A celebrated mathematician and computer pioneer, but not associated with the specific invention of the ATM.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may be tempted by names that sound technical or vaguely familiar, like John von Neumann, without checking the exact context. Others may get confused by the similar-sounding “Barron” options. To avoid mistakes, memorise the full pairing “First ATM → Barclays Bank 1967 → John Shepherd-Barron”. Repeating this link during revision makes such questions quick to answer.

Final Answer:
The inventor associated with the first Barclays Bank ATM is J. Shepherd-Barron.