UK financial services group Nationwide is replacing nearly a third of
its ATM network with a new generation of web-enabled, color, touch-screen
machines.
The 421 ATMs, manufactured by NCR and scheduled for roll-out this month,
will boast high-quality graphic printers, allowing customers to buy and
print cinema or airline tickets as well as pay bills or get financial
advice while extracting cash.
Initially, however, Nationwide is being slightly more cautious about how
people will want to use the machines. To start, web access will only be
provided on machines inside branches, and only in order to provide full
internet banking functionality, said Kevin Scott-Evans, Nationwide’s head
of self-service banking. Only once this is working correctly will the
company begin to explore the promotional potential.
”There is great scope for advertising our products and maybe those of
third parties, but not at the expense of practicality. The fundamental
reason for using an ATM remains getting money,” said Scott-Evans.
It is likely that Nationwide will eventually use the new machines to build
on its existing relationship with UK retail chain Marks & Spencer, in
which Nationwide ATMs dispense M&S vouchers in approximately 30
stores.
The company is reportedly in talks with other potential partners,
including supermarket chains Tesco and Wal-Mart owned Asda.
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