Talking ATM Settlements

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

Washington Mutual Talking ATM, Web and Alternative Format Agreement

The Washington Mutual Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the the California Council of the Blind (CCB), the Florida Council of the Blind, and several blind individuals. In the Agreement, Washington Mutual agreed to install Talking ATMs across the country, upgrade its website to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and provide banking materials in alternative formats. Washington Mutual was the first bank to offer Talking ATMs in Spanish. Read more… Washington Mutual Talking ATM, Web and Alternative Format Agreement

7-Eleven Talking V-com Agreement

The 7-Eleven V-Com Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using American Council of the Blind (ACB), the California Council of the Blind (CCB), and individual blind advocates. A V-com is an advanced ATM in 7-Eleven retail outlets across the United States and 7-Eleven agreed in the settlement that they would all have audio output to allow independent use by blind customers. This was the first agreement in the country in which a non-bank retailer agreed to make ATMs accessible. Read more… 7-Eleven Talking V-com Agreement

Sovereign Bank Settlement Agreement

The Sovereign Bank 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. In the Agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at all its locations, institute a comprehensive alternative format policy and make its website accessible. Read more… Sovereign Bank Settlement Agreement

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

TCF Bank Talking ATM and Alternative Formats Settlement

The TCF Bank Settlement Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and co-counsel Amy Peterson of the Chicago-based Equip for Equality using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the Illinois Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind and a blind TCF customer. In the Agreement, TCF began a Talking ATM and alternative format program in all states in which it does business. The bank will install over 300 Talking ATMs by the end of 2009. Read more… TCF Bank Talking ATM and Alternative Formats Settlement

Wells Fargo Iowa and Utah Agreement

This is the second agreement that Wells Fargo signed with the blind community about Talking ATMs as a result of Structured Negotiations. This agreement was negotiated by Lainey and Linda Dardarian on behalf of the Utah Council of the Blind and the Iowa Council of the Blind. Wells Fargo installed the first Talking ATMs in Iowa and Utah, and now has over 7,000 Talking ATMs throughout the United States. Read more… Wells Fargo Iowa and Utah 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

La Salle Final Agreement

The LaSalle Final Settlement Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and co-counsel Amy Peterson of the Chicago-based Equip for Equality using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the Metropolitan Chicago affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. In the Agreement, LaSalle institute a Talking ATM and alternative format program in all states in which it operated and agreed to upgrade its website to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) promulgated by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium. Read more… La Salle Final 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