STRATEGIC PARTNERS
May 1, 2000
SAN FRANCISCO -- Wells Fargo & Company is launching a network of Web-enabled ATMs, beginning May 2 in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Three of the four ATMs that are scheduled to go online are in the San Francisco Bay area and one is in Los Angeles. Wells plans to convert 650 of its 2,856 ATMs in California and 170 ATMs in Arizona by the end of this year. Wells' remaining 5,500 ATMs in 21 states will be upgraded over several years. Wells Fargo's Web-enabled ATMs include a personalized greeting, an interactive link to screens featuring bank product offers, a Spanish-language option on the welcome screen, drop-down menus on touch screens and headlines from MSNBC.com. Full-color screens and full-motion video will be utilized. When consumers approach the ATM, they will see a full-motion video movie preview or advertisement. As they insert their ATM cards, a personalized message greets them and MSNBC.com headlines flash at the bottom of the screen. They select their transaction, using touch-screen, drop-down menus. By touching the side-bar menu option, consumers link to a full-screen and a more detailed product offer from Wells Fargo or another company. "We're using the power of the Internet and other emerging technologies to bring to our customers an enhanced ATM experience with more content and a faster transaction time," said Bob Chlebowski, executive vice president of Wells Fargo's Distribution Strategies. "Our new Web-enabled ATMs are 'street-corner portals' to online information." Through the alliance with MSNBC.com, Wells Fargo will offer customers features like real-time headlines, business and sports news, displayed on a ticker during the first screen of the transaction and updated every 30 minutes. "This is a compelling new way to access Web-based content and we're excited to extend our existing relationships with consumers to this entirely new and dynamic experience," said Peggy White, business development director for MSNBC.com. Equipped with full-motion video capabilities, the ATMs will run movie trailers or advertisements when consumers aren't using the machines. DreamWorks will be the first company to run an ad -- a preview for its soon-to-be-released "Gladiator." The new features provided by the Web-enabled ATMs are at no additional cost to users.
