News

Cardtronics settles NFB litigation over ATM accessibility

The company has agreed to establish an 'accessibility center of excellence,' which will develop enhanced voice guidance software for blind customers.

November 25, 2014

Cardtronics Inc. has established the Cardtronics Accessibility Center of Excellence, a company news release said. The center, whose mission is to deliver an industry-leading voice-guided user experience at Cardtronics-supported ATMs, is part of a multiyear agreement by Cardtronics, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The agreement resolves a class-action suit concerning the accessibility of Cardtronics' fleet of ATMs to blind consumers, and is subject to the approval of members of the class and the court.

In collaboration with the NFB, Cardtronics will develop enhanced voice guidance software that will provide a fully accessible user experience for blind customers at its ATMs, the release said.

Within the center of excellence, voice guidance capabilities will be incorporated into new ATM technologies, helping to ensure that future ATM innovation is also fully accessible to blind users. Under the terms of the agreement, Cardtronics will:

• establish a process for producing NFB-approved voice guidance software for its ATMs;
• initiate an advanced, in-the-field quality assurance program that will review tens of thousands of ATMs annually; and
• research and develop technologies that assist blind users with financial services delivered through the ATM channel.

"Cardtronics is proud to work in collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind and intends to be at the forefront of providing convenient cash access to blind people," Cardtronics CEO Steve Rathgaber said in the release. "We plan to lead the industry to a higher level of accessibility through the efforts of the center of excellence."

"We appreciate that the leadership team at Cardtronics recognizes that the blind deserve the same convenient access to cash and banking services that sighted people enjoy," said NFB President Mark Riccobono. "By working with Cardtronics in creating the center of excellence, we are together striving to raise the quality of access for blind users to financial transactions and other services provided by ATM technology."