News

B of A wraps installation of â€&tilde;talking' ATMs for visually impaired users

March 31, 2010

Bank of America yesterday announced that every B of A ATM in the country has been equipped with voice-enabled technology.

According to a news release from B of A, visually impaired customers can now access more than 18,000 B of A ATMs, the largest network of bank-owned ATMs in the United States.

Talking ATMs provide audible instructions in English or Spanish to users who cannot view information on an ATM screen. The ATMs have audio jacks that deliver spoken instructions privately through standard headsets to protect the security of users who are blind or have low-vision.

"Bank of America has long been a leader in understanding the needs of blind and low-vision banking customers," said Jeff Thom, president of the California Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Arlington, Virginia-based American Council of the Blind. "From talking ATMs to accessible online banking to Braille bank statements, we are proud to have partnered with Bank of America for almost 15 years."

In 2001, B of A was the first bank in the United States to announce a comprehensive plan to install talking ATMs across the country. The bank also was the first to make its Web site and online banking conform to Web accessibility standards, and it was the first major bank in the United States to equip its machines with deposit-imaging technology. Today, automated-deposit technology is available at 13,800 B of A ATMs.

"Bank of America is pleased to offer talking functionality in over 18,000 ATMs across the country," said Rob Aulebach, ATM management executive at B of A. "This is just one of many services we continue to offer to our visually impaired customers."