STRATEGIC PARTNERS
January 13, 2003
ONTARIO, Calif. -- CO-OP Network has signed an agreement with the Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix grocery chain that will increase ATM access for Co-Op cardholders across the South.
According to a news release, Co-Op cardholders will gain surcharge-free access to more than 800 ATMs in 741 Publix grocery outlets, most of which are located in Florida.
The move will offer an added benefit to cardholders from Ottawa's Civil Service Co-operative Credit Society, which became a Co-op member in October. Many of Civil Service Co-operative's 150,000 cardholders visit Florida for extended periods or have retired there. The deal is expected to reduce the international transaction costs the credit society's cardholders pay for cross-border ATM transactions.
Denise Grace, network manager of Publix's proprietary Presto! network, said in the release, "One of our goals for 2003 is to increase Presto! Network transaction volumes. Co-Op Network has 12 million cardholders in 50 states, so providing them access to our ATMs is a sound business decision that will definitely help us reach our goal."
"We aspire to provide our customers with ATM access in both financial institutions and neighborhood locations," said Gene Polito, Co-Op Network president, in the release.
Through an agreement with ISO Access Cash, Co-Op offers its cardholders surcharge-free access to 6,500 retail ATMs under Access Cash management.
