Allpoint Network has gone Down Under and come up on top.
The Bethesda, Md.-based surcharge-free ATM network today announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Customers Limited, Australia's largest ATM owner and operator. Customers reported in its 2010 annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30 that it owned and operated more than 5,600 ATMs in Australia, and controlled 20 percent of the country's bank- and ISO-ATM market.
The partnership adds nearly 6,000 ATM locations to Allpoint's Network. Allpoint now provides surcharge-free ATM access to more than 40,000 ATM locations in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico.
As part of the agreement, Customers ATMs will carry Allpoint's logo. Customers of Australian- and United States-based financial institutions that are Allpoint members will be able to withdraw funds surcharge-free from the ATMs.
Customers Limited clients include Citibank of Australia, St. George Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, and Arab Bank of Australia. Cardholders whose banks are not members of the Allpoint/Customers network will be charged a surcharge fee when they withdraw funds from one of the network's ATMs, which are deployed in retail locations throughout Australia.
Ben Psillas, Allpoint's founder and president, says ATM surcharging in Australia opened the door for Allpoint, the world's largest surcharge-free ATM network, to enter the country's market.
"The introduction of ATM surcharging (Direct Charge) in Australia in 2009 has presented a natural opportunity for Allpoint to expand its global surcharge-free footprint," Psillas said. "The partnership with Customers brings together two industry leaders to provide Australians unprecedented surcharge-free access, while expanding and enhancing the convenience and value of Allpoint for existing ATM customers."
Tim Wildash, Customers managing director, said the partnership provides value to new and existing clients.
"Cardholders of financial institutions that choose to join Allpoint will have unprecedented ATM access across Australia through the Customers' network without paying a Direct Charge," he said.
Cardtronics Inc., a Houston-based ATM ISO, owns Allpoint.
