Here is today's Talking ATM announcement. The Union Bank on the corner
of
Shattuck and Durant now has a talking ATM. That means that on
Shattuck
between University and Channing there are talking ATMs at B of A, Wells
Fargo, Citibank and Union Bank! All of the Andronico's also have Wells
Fargo Talking ATMs and there are more than a dozen others around the city
(e.g. Ashby and College!). If you haven't tried a talking ATM yet,
please do!
For Immediate Release
Contacts Below
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA INSTALLS FIRST TALKING ATMS IN OREGON AND
WASHINGTON
Bank's Commitment will benefit a wide range of people who have
difficulty reading standard print
SAN FRANCISCO December 6, 2001---------Union Bank of California, N.A. today
announced installations of Talking ATMs in California, Washington and
Oregon as part of plan to install Talking ATMs at virtually all of the
Bank's ATM Locations over the next eight months. UBOC becomes
the first
bank in the country to install full-service talking ATMs in Washington
State and Oregon. The Bank also announced a broad plan to enhance access
to its printed materials for persons who are blind and vision impaired.
Talking ATMs provide audible instructions to persons who cannot view
information on an ATM screen. These machines make it easier for visually
impaired users to withdraw cash, deposit money, obtain account balances,
and perform other transactions. The ATMs have audio jacks that deliver
spoken instructions privately to protect the security of sight impaired
users.
Today's announcement was hailed by members of the blindness community: "I
am proud to be a customer of Union Bank of California and I am thrilled
that it has committed to installing talking ATMs and to making its other
services accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals," said
Marjorie Donovan, a rehabilitation specialist with the Department of
Veterans Affairs in San Francisco. A member of the American Council
of the
Blind, Donovan has been actively involved in assisting UBOC in its efforts
to improve services to the blindness community. "Having full
access to my
bank gives me as both a blind individual and as a professional a critical
sense of freedom and pride," she continued. "Union Bank of California
deserves tremendous praise for being the first bank to bring talking ATMs
to the states of Oregon and Washington, said John Flemming, representative
of the Oregon Council of the Blind, and Marlaina Lieberg, chair
of the
Environmental Access Committee of the Washington Council of the
Blind. Both organizations are affiliates of the American Council of
the
Blind. "We urge other banks doing business in these states to follow UBOC's
leadership role in providing independent access for all customers to a wide
array of banking services."
According to Lainey Feingold, a California disability rights lawyer who has
assisted members of the blindness community around the country regarding
talking ATMs, "the expanded UBOC services announced today will benefit the
blindness community as well as all persons who have difficulty reading
standard print. Seniors, persons with dyslexia, as well as persons
who are
blind or have vision impairments will now be able to independently access
their financial information, a critical component to maintaining
independence," she said.
"Providing talking ATMs is an essential aspect of serving our blind or
visually-impaired customers with access to financial services. We consider
these steps integral to our commitment to serving this community," said
Richard Hartnack, vice chairman for Union Bank of California.
Details of UBOC Initiative
Talking ATMs:
UBOC talking ATMs will be equipped with universal audio jacks that work
with headphones and the bank will also provide listening devices to
persons with vision impairments. When an earphone is plugged into the
jack, the listener hears private audio instructions for transactions
typically displayed on the ATM screen such as cash withdrawals, balance
inquiries, transfers & payments and deposits. Union Bank is upgrading
existing ATMs to provide the audio feature.
Expanded access to financial documents: In the future, Union Bank of
California will provide important financial materials including statements,
brochures and other account information in formats which are better suited
to the needs of the visually impaired such as Braille, audiocassette and
large print. This aspect of the bank's initiative is extremely important
to the growing senior population as it seeks to maintain independent access
to personal financial information.
Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a bank holding company
with assets of $35.2 billion at September 30, 2001. Its primary subsidiary
is Union Bank of California, N.A., the third largest commercial bank in
California with 244 banking offices in California, 6 banking offices in
Oregon and Washington and 18 international facilities. The Website is
located at www.uboc.com.
First Union Bank Talking ATM Locations
Seattle, WA: 910 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA, 98164
Portland, OR: 407 Southwest Broadway, Portland, OR, 97208
California:
Castle Park, 1343 Third Ave, Chula Vista, CA, 91911
Clairemont 4225 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA,
92117
Cypress 4125 Ball Road, Cypress, CA, 90630
Gardena 15800 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA, 90247
Huntington Beach 16141 Beach Blvd,
Huntington Beach, CA, 92647
Lake Murray
8630 Lake Murray Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92119
National City
22 East 8th St, National City, CA, 91950
North Park
2927 University Ave, San Diego, CA, 92104
Oakland 1970 Franklin St,
Oakland, CA, 94604
Rancho Mirage 71-950 Hwy 111, Ste B, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Sacramento
700 "L" St, Sacramento, CA, 95814
Shaw & Marks 3015 W Shaw Ave, Fresno, 93711
Berkeley
2333 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley 94704
San Diego,
Fourth & Laurel, 344 Laurel St, San Diego 92101
San Diego,
Golden Triangle, 4660 La Jolla Village Dr,
Ste 175, San Diego 92122
San Francisco Main,
400 California St, San Francisco 94104
Burlingame,
1887 El Camino Real, Burlingame 94010