AUCKLAND, N.Z. – Talk about using a long-distance supplier, Triton Corporation of Mississippi will supply ATM machines to the New Zealand Association for Credit Unions (NZACU). The low-cost cash machines were shown at NZACU's annual Opportunities Conference in Hamilton, New Zealand last month. The conference was attended by 157 credit union managers and board members. Currently, New Zealand's ATM machines are limited to lobby installations, but credit unions are seeking "holes-in the wall," the local name for ATM's located outside buildings. Credit unions see this as a way to give their members 24/7 access to their money. NZACU's Business Services Chairman, John Keenan, said that these machines using new security features and communications protocols would be the first used outside the United States. "The upgrade to existing ACCESSCASHr ATMs and installation of the new TCP/IP-equipped ATMs will allow credit unions to reduce monthly and per transaction charges for dial-up phone lines," John said. "It will also reduce ATM transaction times significantly, giving credit union customers quicker access to their funds, beating the long queues at the counter." NZACU spokeswoman Vicky Mackenzie NZACU cited another advantage to the holes-in the wall ATMs. "These machines are also Windows-based and are great for displaying advertisements on the display panels." ACCESSCASH is the name of the NZACU ATM program. Until recently, the only realistic alternative to dial-up connectivity for ATMs in New Zealand was a leased line, which is significantly more expensive. ACCESSCASHr ATMs are now a practical possibility for countless non-bank locations. Although the hardware was developed by the American manufacturer, NZACU was responsible for the development of the software. Fifteen credit unions branches in Hamilton, Auckland and Rotorua will receive the first ATMs. Another 30 credit unions are expected to follow. The new machines will solve the problem where some large banks have pulled out of small communities such as Murchison in Nelson, Lawrence in Otago. New Zealand banks are owned off shore. Although credit union members with ACCESSCASHr ATM cards can access any New Zealand ATM machine, there are no machines in communities where banks have deserted customers. People need to travel out of town for withdrawals and other ATM transactions. At the moment CIRRUS and PLUS are not available to New Zealand credit union members, but NZACU is in the process of applying for this connection. As part of the conversion to the new ATMS, NZACU's Vic Martick went to Mississippi to become fully trained in the utilization of the ATMs. -

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