The Law Office of Lainey Feingold is excited to post this Bank of America press release announcing that every Bank of America ATM in the United States is now a Talking ATM.
That makes over 18,000 Bank of America Talking ATMs. Bank of America’s first Talking ATM press release was issued in June of 2000, and was headlined “15 Bank of America ATMs Are Up and Talking in California.”
The 18,000 Talking ATM milestone is the result of a long collaboration between Bank of America and the blind community. The bank was first approached in 1995 about ATM accessibility by the California Council of the Blind and Jerry Kuns, Roger Petersen, Bernice Kandarian, Nicaise Dogbo, and Don Brown, represented by Lainey and Linda Dardarian. The bank agreed to engage in Structured Negotiations, and eventually signed three settlement agreements about Talking ATMs, the accessibility of its website and on-line banking platform, and alternative formats for print information. Bank of America continues to be a national leader on all three issues.
Jump to resources about Bank of America’s Talking ATM and other accessibility initiatives
Simplified Summary of this Document
Bank of America Completes Installation of Talking ATMs
Maintains Leadership Role in Services for Visually Impaired Customers
Charlotte (March 31, 2010)– As part of its long-standing commitment to customers with visual impairments, Bank of America today announced that every Bank of America ATM in the country has been equipped with voice-enabled technology. Visually impaired customers can now access more than 18,000 Bank of America ATMs, the largest network of bank-owned ATMs in the U.S.
Talking ATMs provide audible instructions in English or Spanish to persons who cannot view information on an ATM screen. These machines make it easier for people with visual impairments to withdraw cash, deposit money and perform other ATM transactions. The ATMs have audio jacks that deliver spoken instructions privately through standard headsets to protect the security of users who are blind or have low-vision.
Bank of America has long been a leader in understanding the needs of blind and low-vision banking customers. From talking ATMs, to accessible online banking, to Braille bank statements, we are proud to have partnered with Bank of America for almost 15 years. — Jeff Thom, president of the California Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Arlington, Virginia-based American Council of the Blind
In 2001, Bank of America was the first bank in the United States to announce a comprehensive plan to install talking ATMs across the country. The bank was also the first to make its Web site and online banking conform to Web accessibility standards.
Bank of America is pleased to offer talking functionality in over 18,000 ATMs across the country. This is just one of many services we continue to offer to our visually impaired customers. We are proud to offer innovative solutions at our ATMs so all of our customers have the control and choice to manage their everyday finances effectively. — Rob Aulebach, Bank of America ATM Channel Management executive
In addition to talking ATMs, Bank of America is the first major bank to equip all of its deposit-accepting ATMs throughout the country with deposit imaging technology. This technology is now available at 13,800 Bank of America ATMs. Deposit Image ATMs allow customers to feed checks and cash directly into the ATM slot, eliminating the need to fill out deposit slips and stuff envelopes. For cash deposits, customers can deposit up to 40 bills at a time and receive immediate credit if the transaction is made on a business day by 8 p.m., subject to certain exceptions explained in our account agreements. Deposit Image ATMs calculate deposits automatically and display information on-screen or via audio for verification.
To locate a Bank of America ATM, visit www.bankofamerica.com.
California Council of the Blind
California Council of the Blind is a state-wide consumer-based advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans. CCB and its members are dedicated to improving the quality of life, equality of opportunity and independence of all people who have visual impairments. CCB has a long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs which will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually impaired. CCB has been working with Bank of America for nearly fifteen years on issues of banking accessibility, and issued its first press release about Bank of America Talking ATMs in 2000. More information about CCB and about Talking ATMs can be found by visiting www.ccbnet.org and https://www.lflegal.com/category/talking-atms/
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 59 million consumer and small business relationships with 6,000 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with nearly 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
www.bankofamerica.com
Media Contacts
Don Vecchiarello, Bank of America, 1.980.387.4899
don.vecchiarello [at] bankofamerica [dot]com
Jeff Thom, California Council of the Blind, 1.916.995.3967
jsthom [at] comcast [dot] net
Additional Resources
Bank of America Accessibility Press Releases
- Bank of America First California Pilot Press Release (2000)
- Bank of America Talking ATM and Web Press Release (2000)
- Bank of America Florida Talking ATM Press Release (2000)
- Bank of America National Press Release (2001)
- Bank of America Bilingual Talking ATM Press Release (2001)
- 2010 Bank of America 18,000 Talking ATMs press release
Bank of America Accessibility Agreements
- Bank of America California and Florida Agreement (2000) Talking ATMs in California and Florida, comprehensive website accessibility, national alternative format policy.
- Bank of America Interim National Agreement (2001) Talking ATMs at 85% of locations nationwide.
- Bank of America Final National Agreement (2006) Talking ATMs at remaining 15% of locations nationwide.
Talking ATMs and Structured Negotiations
- For a list of twenty two Talking ATM press releases issued as a result of Structured Negotiations, visit the Talking ATM Press Release Category of this website.
- For a list of twenty Talking ATM settlement agreements reached as a result of Structured Negotiations, visit the Talking ATM Settlement Agreement Category of this website.
- Posts about Talking ATM history can be found in the Talking ATM History Category of this website.
- All posts on LFLegal about Talking ATMs can be found in the catch-all Talking ATM category.