Capital Briefs: Setback in Fight Against ATM Network Merger

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has agreed to take a second look at a case pitting the Federal Reserve Board against Money Station Inc., an ATM network operator based in Columbus, Ohio.

Agreeing Wednesday to rehear the case, the full court vacated an April 23 decision that ordered the Fed to reconsider its approval of an acquisition by one of Money Station's competitors.

In March 1995, the Fed gave Electronic Payment Services Inc. permission to add National City Corp.'s ATMs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky to its MAC network. But Money Station sued, arguing the Fed should have held a hearing on the deal's impact on competition.

A three-judge panel sided with Money Station on a 2-1 vote in April. The Fed appealed, and a majority of the court's 11 judges agreed to rehear the case. No schedule for the new trial has been set.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER