Cardtronics And MasterCard Team On ATMProgram

HOUSTON - (09/27/05) - Cartronics Inc., which operates thenation's largest ATM fleet, announced Monday it has teamed withMasterCard International to create a nationwide surcharge-free ATMprogram. Under the deal, issuers of MasterCard andMasterCard’s Maestro and/or Cirrus branded debit cards willbe able to offer their cardholders surcharge-free cash withdrawalsat more than 25,000 Cardtronics ATMs. The deal, the latest of anumber of surcharge-free initiatives, will put increasing pressureon surcharge fees earned by banks and credit unions. Hundreds ofcredit unions are already using the Cardtronics machines eitherover the Credit Union 24 or Allpoint networks. The Cardtronicsprogram will not require any brand changes. Cardholders will beable to utilize a free web-based locator to find the nearestsurcharge-free Cardtronics ATM. MasterCard will market the programto its member financial institutions.