HOUSTON Cardtronics announced this morning it has completed the acquisition of i-design group plc, a Scotland-based provider of technology and services that transform ATM screens and receipts into delivery devices for interactive customer communications by financial institutions, for $13 million.
The deal could have broad ramifications for credit unions, which connect to Cardtronics’ 60,000 U.S. ATMs through CO-OP Financial Services, Credit Union 24 and the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Allpoint network.
“In a world where consumer attention seems forever fixed on a screen—smartphones, TVs, tablets, laptops, etc.—it’s important to remember the attention-getting quality of a screen known to all demographics, the ATM screen,” said Steve Rathgaber, CEO of Cardtronics. “Because an ATM transaction is all about that person’s money, they’re going to pay extra close attention to that screen. And with tens of thousands of ATMs under Cardtronics’ direct control, plus our existing relationships with 1,200 financial institutions and name-brand retailers on two continents, i-design finds its ideal home at Cardtronics.”
Cardtronics, operator of the world’s biggest fleet of ATMs, will also offer the i-design suite of solutions to credit unions and banks as a standalone service. Cardtronics plans to extend the i-design marketing/advertising solution to other “screens” including mobile phones, digital signage, self-service kiosks and more.
The acquisition of i-design brings in-house a marketing/advertising solution deployed by Cardtronics on a limited basis since 2010, primarily through its Bank Machine operations in the United Kingdom, and also at select Cardtronics ATM placements in the U.S. and Canada. i-design software will be installed at additional domestic and international company-owned ATMs, as well as create opportunity for additional international expansion without significant capital investment.
“Every transaction can be unique and thus more valuable from the consumer perspective—that’s what having i-design solutions in-house means to Cardtronics,” said Rathgaber. “With i-design, Cardtronics can help financial service providers deliver personalized messages to individual cardholders, all while enhancing the value of an ATM transaction with a relevant offer or reward ready for immediate redemption.”
