STRATEGIC PARTNERS
December 9, 2001
SAN FRANCISCO -- Union Bank of California, N.A. is rolling out 14 "talking" ATMs -- 12 in California and one each in Washington and Oregon -- as part of plan to install audio enabled ATMs at virtually all of its ATM locations over the next eight months.
UBOC, which is upgrading existing ATMs to add audio capabilities, becomes the first bank in the country to install full-service "talking" ATMs in Washington State and Oregon.
The ATMs have audio jacks that deliver spoken instructions privately to protect the security of sight impaired users. Advocates for the visually impaired have been working with the federal government, ATM manufacturers and financial institutions to bring audio technology to ATMs. The federal Access Board within the next two months is expected to issue a proposed set of revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act that will require many ATM owners to add audio capabilities to their machines.
UBOC's announcement was hailed by members of the blindness community. "I am proud to be a customer of Union Bank of California and I am thrilled that it has committed to installing talking ATMs and to making its other services accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals," said Marjorie Donovan, a rehabilitation specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco.
A member of the American Council of the Blind, Donovan has been actively involved in assisting UBOC in its efforts to improve services to the blindness community. "Having full access to my bank gives me as both a blind individual and as a professional a critical sense of freedom and pride," she said.
In addition to adding audio-enabled ATMs to its network of 400 machines, UBOC announced it plans to provide financial materials such as statements, brochures and other account information in formats which are better suited to the needs of the visually impaired such as Braille, audiocassette and large print.
