Bank One Preliminary Talking ATM Press Release

The Bank One Press Release posted here was issued as a result of an initial settlement agreement that Bank One signed with Chicago blind activists Kelly Pierce and Anna Byrne using Structured Negotiations instead of litigation. In the 2001 Bank One Preliminary Settlement Agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at 130 locations, making it the first bank with Talking ATMs in Illinois and Ohio. Two years later, the bank signed a comprehensive agreement providing for additional Talking ATMs, an alternative format policy, and an accessible web site. Read more… Bank One Preliminary Talking ATM Press Release

Bank One Preliminary Talking ATM Agreement

The Talking ATMs installed pursuant to the Bank One preliminary agreement were the first in Illinois. The agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of Chicago blind activists Kelly Pierce and Anna Byrne. The final Bank One Agreement, which also addressed web access and alternative formats, is posted in the Settlement Agreement Category. As of early 2008, Chase Bank, which purchased Bank One and continued its accessibility services, had over 9,000 Talking ATMs. Read more… Bank One Preliminary Talking ATM Agreement

Union Bank of California Press Release

The Union Bank press release was issued as a result of the Union Bank settlement agreement negotiated by Lainey using Structured Negotiations on behalf of California blind advocate Margie Donovan. In the agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at all its locations and implement a comprehensive alternative format policy. Subsequently, the bank also committed to make its website accessible. Read more… Union Bank of California Press Release

Bank of America Interim National Agreement

The Bank of America Interim National Agreement expanded on the historic initial Bank of America agreement by confirming the Bank’s commitment to install Talking ATMs at 85% of its locations nationwide. The second agreement illustrates the flexibility allowed by Structured Negotiations, and underscores the positive relationships that develop as a result of the collaborative process. Read more… Bank of America Interim National Agreement

Union Bank of California Agreement

The Union Bank settlement agreement was negotiated by Lainey using Structured Negotiations on behalf of California blind advocate Margie Donovan. In the agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at all its locations and implement a comprehensive alternative format policy. Union Bank of California had the first Talking ATMs in Washington State and Oregon. Subsequently, the bank also committed to make its website accessible. Read more… Union Bank of California Agreement

Fleet Bank Initial Settlement Agreement

The Fleet Bank initial settlement agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and co-counsel Stan Eichner of the Disability Law Center in Boston, Massachusetts, using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the Bay State Council of the Blind and other Massachusetts advocates. Fleet, which was subsequently purchased by Bank of America, agreed in this document to install Talking ATMs, adopt a comprehensive alternative formats policy, and make its website accessible. Structured Negotiations offers the flexibility to have multiple agreements when all parties agree. In the final Fleet settlement agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at 100% of its ATM locations. Read more… Fleet Bank Initial Settlement Agreement

First Union Preliminary Talking ATM Agreement

This settlement agreement was negotiated by Lainey and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of representatives of the blind community in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Tom Earle, formerly with the Disabilities Law Project in Philadelphia, now known as the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, also represented the Claimants. This was the first of two agreements that First Union, subsequently purchased by Wachovia, negotiated with the blind community. In this agreement, the bank agreed to install the first Talking ATMs in North Carolina, Maryland, and New Jersey. As of early 2008, Wachovia has thousands of Talking ATMs. Read more… First Union Preliminary Talking ATM Agreement

Citibank National Talking ATM Agreement

The Citibank national Talking ATM agreement expanded on the first agreement with that bank by setting forth Citibank’s commitment to install Talking ATMs at all of its United States branch locations. The agreement was negotiated using Structured Negotiations, by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind and individual members of the blind community. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. Read more… Citibank National Talking ATM Agreement

Citibank New York Talking ATM Press Release

The Citibank New York Press Release, announcing New York City’s first Talking ATMs, was issued as a result of the final Citibank settlement agreement. That agreement was negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the California Council of the Blind and blind advocates Steven Mendelsohn and Kathy Martinez. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. Read more… Citibank New York Talking ATM Press Release

Bank of America National Press Release

This release was issued after Bank of America expanded its commitment to provide accessible services by signing a national Talking ATM agreement in which it agreed to install Talking ATMs at 85% of its locations. The agreement, negotiated in the year following first Bank of America Settlement Agreement was negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. In early 2008, Bank of America has over 11,0000 Talking ATMs. Read more… Bank of America National Press Release