Convenience ATMs Come to New Zealand

2 April 2008

Convenience ATMs Come to New Zealand

A significant milestone is set to take place at selected locations around the country that will mean added convenience and ease of use for Kiwi consumers.

Paymark, New Zealand's leading provider of electronic payment services, has teamed up with NZ ATM and ATM Plus to launch a pilot phase of Convenience ATMs into the New Zealand market for the first time.

Having looked at overseas models and how they work, Paymark has taken the best aspects and features from these case studies to put together a service that is safe, secure and reliable as well as convenient.

Paymark, who processes 75 percent of New Zealand EFTPOS transactions, is working with ATM companies NZ ATM and ATM Plus to set up a number of trial sites in New Zealand locations. NZ ATM and ATM Plus have undergone a rigorous certification process implemented by Paymark to ensure the Convenience ATMs are as safe and secure as the EFTPOS network and meet or exceed all international safety standards.

The ATMs provide a great service in those smaller towns, such as Eketahuna and other country towns, where there is not currently a dedicated ATM facility. Other ideal locations include petrol stations and dairies where cash is often required but there may not be an ATM nearby.

Simon Tong, CEO of Paymark, says; "These machines have been hugely successful overseas. Convenience ATMs provide a safer means of distributing cash for merchants, without them having to carry large floats to provide cash out via EFTPOS in locations where a banking service isn't available. With our experience and reputation it made sense for Paymark to take the lead rolling them out in New Zealand. We have spent over two years working with our partners to ensure the Convenience ATM experience will be as safe and as easy as EFTPOS."

Convenience ATMs are independent of bank-owned machines. This means there is a nominal fee for each transaction. The convenience fee covers the cost of the electronic transaction, cash servicing, telecommunications, support and lease costs associated with the ATM machine.

Customers from Westpac, BNZ and TSB are currently able to use these new machines, with KiwiBank coming on board later in the pilot. Each time the card and pin is entered into the machine the convenience fee will be clearly stated and the customer will have the option whether to proceed with the transaction at that point.

"We're really excited that Kiwi customers of these banks now have a choice to use these ATMs, because they'll provide added convenience and ease of use. In the past people would have had to travel further to find a bank-owned machine to get cash out, now the choice is in their hands," adds Tong.

The first convenience ATMs in the pilot are now operational.

ENDS

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