NEW ORLEANS -- Bank One has installed 25 "talking" ATMs in Louisiana, creating the first ATM network in the state to help visually impaired customers conduct their banking
transactions.
Bank One, which operates 400 ATMs in Louisiana, now has more than 100 talking ATMs nationwide.
"Our goal is to expand everyday services to blind people, and we commend Bank One's efforts to reach its blind customers with this installation," said Pamela Allen, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana.
As with other audio-enabled ATMs, customers use a standard set of earphones to hear private voice prompts that take them step-by-step through an ATM transaction. The earphones can be obtained from the Bank One banking center locations that feature the new technology.
Bank One employees will help users get acquainted with the modified ATMs, and audio users will hear a brief "orientation" at the ATM.
Steven Henry, a blind clerk typist with the U.S. Postal Service in New Orleans and a Bank One customer, said, "I've been able to use ATMs with Braille, but if I made a mistake, I had no way of knowing it. Using the headset gives me a voice confirmation that wasn't available to me before. Also, it's nice that Bank One has made this service available at 25 locations statewide."
More information about Bank One's talking ATM program, including the locations of Bank One's talking ATMs nationwide, is available by calling 1-877-241-8665.
