Travelex, a global provider of foreign currency-exchange solutions, has announced the successful deployment of multicurrency ATMs at Sydney Airport, in collaboration with EFTEX.
According to a news release from Travelex, Australian transaction processor EFTEX is driving the ATMs and processing transactions on behalf of Travelex, using so-called state-of-the-art payments software. The service is the first of its kind in Australia and offers real-time transaction processing to dispense foreign currency via ATMs.
"Multicurrency ATM usage is a key area of growth for Travelex," said Dan Gilby, global head of self-service at Travelex. "With international travel to and from Australia increasing, we anticipate positive demand for the Travelex ATMs from busy travelers seeking convenient, 24-hour access to foreign currency. The next phase in Australia is to offer inbound travelers dynamic currency conversion functionality, which will allow them to view exchange rates and fix the withdrawal price in the billing currency of their debit or credit card. With EFTEX, we are well-placed to rapidly increase the number of multicurrency/DCC ATMs deployed both in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region."
Following a pilot in the Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth airports, the installation of more than 30 ATMs was completed at Sydney's airport in October. The ATMs offer a range of currencies, including U.S., Australian and New Zealand dollars, euros, the Thai baht, Singapore dollars, British pounds and Japanese yen. Further rollouts will include installations at the Canberra, Adelaide, Darwin and Gold Coast airports, with a plan for more than 100 ATMs to be operational in Australia by early 2010.
Travelex and EFTEX completed the rollout within six months, from concept to initial installations.
"Travelex and EFTEX have together proved that reliability, innovation and speed to market are not mutually exclusive concepts," said Paul Stewart, general manager of EFTEX. "Multicurrency ATMs represent a major development in convenience for busy travelers and will change the way people buy foreign currency in the same way that regular ATMs have changed everyday banking."
EFTEX drives and processes transactions for more than 1,100 ATMs. As well as providing the necessary local expertise and support, EFTEX was instrumental in securing a bank acquirer for the project, gaining the necessary support from Australia's card and banking community to ensure acceptance of the multicurrency ATMs.
