Postal credit unions swapping ATM numbers

DEL MAR, Calif. – Postal credit unions which are members of the National Council of Postal Credit Unions have begun to swap their ATM terminal identification numbers to allow their members to use other postal credit union ATMs without fees. “This will give our members more ATM locations where they can transact business without incurring foreign transaction fees,” explained Sydney Parfait, president of the association. Credit unions wishing to participate in the arrangement let the association transmit their terminal identification numbers to other postal credit unions so that the ATMs will not recognize their members as “foreign.” The downside, of course, is that participating credit unions have to be willing to forego any foreign user income from those other postal ATM members, said Bob Spindler, executive director of the association. Spindler said the association wanted to help its 160 member credit unions, most of which are very small, to expand their members’ ATM options in a way that is voluntary and simple. “Postal credit unions are a very close, a very tight community,” Spindler said. He said they wanted to let them expand their ATM use without having to do something as big as join a network.