1st Commerce in riverboat play.

First Commerce Corp. of New Orleans this month installed automated teller machines on a riverboat casino.

New Orleans is one of many locales caught up in the riverboat gambling craze. As the Star Casino and other riverboats float along Lake Ponchartrain, the $6.5 billion-asset First Commerce will have what amounts to a captive audience of people needing cash.

After lobbying the state legislature to allow ATMs at casino sites, First Commerce concentrated on the logistics of getting two in place, and making sure they run as smoothly as landbased machines. First Commerce also has installed two ATMs in the riverboat terminal.

Other Nontraditional Locales

Ashton J. Ryan, president of the lead bank, First National Bank of Commerce, said it is committed to putting ATMs in nontraditional locations like all-night pharmacies, hotels, and supermarkets as well as casinos.

"This gives us the ability to put cash in places where customers are when they need the cash," Mr. Ryan said. "We have a large retail customer base in the city. We think this brings value to those customers."

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