Talking ATMs

The Law Office of Lainey Feingold first began working on Talking ATMs in 1995. Lainey and her clients and co-counsel negotiated the first Talking ATM settlements in the United States. Beginning in 1999, Lainey negotiated 20 Talking ATM settlements with the country's largest financial institutions. Stories of many of these negotiations are included in Lainey's book, Structured Negotiation, A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits. This topic includes articles about those settlements, related press releases, Talking ATM regulations, international Talking ATM installations and more.

Bank of America California and Florida Agreement

Posted on Updated on April 3, 2018
The Bank of America California and Florida Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and several individual blind advocates. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. This was the first agreement in the country in which a bank committed to make its website accessible, and the first in which a bank committed to install Talking ATMs in more than one state. This was the first of three agreements involving Bank of America’s services for blind customers. The interim Bank of America national agreement and the final Bank of America national agreement are posted in the Settlement Agreement Category. Read more… Bank of America California and Florida Agreement

New United States Talking ATM Regulations Now On Line

Posted on Updated on April 2, 2018
The United States Department of Justice has now made the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design available on line. The Standards were included in the revised ADA regulations announced by the Department in September, 2010, but the 257 page document was not on line until November 15, 2010. The Standards include, for the first time, detailed requirements for Talking ATMs. Read more… New United States Talking ATM Regulations Now On Line

Blind Turkish Pop Star Advocates for Talking ATMs and POS devices

Posted on Updated on April 2, 2018
[quote from=”CNN News article on blind Turkish pop star Metin Senturk”]Technological innovations are also widening access to some everyday activities, such as banking. Earlier this month, Turkey’s Yapi Kredi bank launched an ATM which talks visually-impaired customers through their transactions. It also rolled out point of sale machines that act in a similar manner.[/quote]On December 17, 2010, CNN ran the story reprinted here about Turkish pop star Metin Senturk who is blind. Mr. Senturk, who holds the Guinness record as the world’s fastest blind driver, started a disability rights organization in Turkey, and mentions disability issues on his weekly national television show. Another aspect of disability advocacy in Turkey? As explained more fully in the article here, the leading bank in Turkey rolled out its first Talking ATM on December 3, 2010. Talking Point of Sale devices have also been introduced. Read more… Blind Turkish Pop Star Advocates for Talking ATMs and POS devices

Blind Advocacy for Accessible Technology Has Rich California History

Posted on Updated on May 18, 2016
October 10 – 16, 2010, has been designated by the California legislature as the state’s first ever “Disability History Week.” The official designation is the result of disability community advocacy efforts spearheaded by “Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud”, a project of the the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. This historic week provides a welcomed opportunity to look at the history made by blind advocates and their organizations in California as part of the on-going push for accessible technology. Read more… Blind Advocacy for Accessible Technology Has Rich California History

Share Your Talking ATM Experience

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
October 1, 2009 marks the tenth anniversary of the first Talking ATM installed in the United States. As a result of a wide range of advocacy efforts across the country, we estimate that there are now more than 100,000 Talking ATMs in the U.S., with thousands of others across the globe. In this post you can find information about how to share your Talking ATM experiences. There is also information on Talking ATM resources. Read more… Share Your Talking ATM Experience

Wells Fargo California Talking ATM and Alternative Format Agreement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The Wells Fargo California ATM and Alternative Format Settlement Agreement was the first in the United States in which a bank made a state-wide commitment to install Talking ATMs. The Agreement was negotiated by Lainey and Co-Counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. Claimants in the case were the California Council of the Blind and the… Read more… Wells Fargo California Talking ATM and Alternative Format Agreement

Bank of America California Pilot Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
This press release, announcing Bank of America’s first 15 Talking ATMs, was issued as a result of the first Bank of America settlement agreement negotiated using the process of Structured Negotiations. The agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and several individual blind advocates. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. As of early 2008, the bank has installed more than 11,000 Talking ATMs. Read more… Bank of America California Pilot Press Release

TCF Bank Talking ATM Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
TCF BANK TO INSTALL TALKING ATMs AND ENHANCE OTHER SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS Bank Announces Collaboration with the Illinois Council of the Blind and Equip for Equality Wayzata, MN, (December 3, 2008)– TCF Bank (TCF), a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE: TCB), the Illinois Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, and Equip for Equality announced today that TCF has launched a major initiative intended to provide easier access to its banking services for individuals with visual impairments. Read more… TCF Bank Talking ATM Press Release

All 18,000 Bank of America ATMs are now Talking ATMs!

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
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. Read more… All 18,000 Bank of America ATMs are now Talking ATMs!