The executive director of the brand-new National ATM Council said the association of small, independent ATM deployers would be open to working with credit unions, particularly on regulatory issues.

Bruce Renard said the association currently represents about 75 ATM independent ATM deployers, ranging from operators of single ATMs to hundreds.

The new association is the result of a merger of the National Association of ATM ISOs and Operators and the Alliance of Specialized Communications Providers.

Significantly, the new board of directors does not include a representative from Cardtronics, the nation's largest independent ATM deployer. Renard said he did not know if the industry giant was actually a member or not.

Renard denied that that Cardtronics' not being part of the board meant that there was a split in the industry between larger and smaller deployers, but maintained that the member firms wanted an organization that would give them a more focused voice.

He also added that the web of regulations implementing the American with Disabilities Act as it applies to ATMs was one of the new association's chief concerns and that the council would be open to working with CUs on the common issues.

“We are definitely open to reaching out on areas where we see possible cooperation,” Renard said, noting that most CUs are small ATM deployers as well.