CU24 To Provide ATMs, Parts
TALLAHASEE, Fla.-Credit Union 24 said it will use ATM America Inc., a distributor of ATMs, as its preferred, low-cost provider of ATMs, ATM parts and supplies for credit union participants in the network. Under the deal, ATM America will provide reduced pricing on ATMs and equipment from NexTran Industries Inc. of New York City. NexTran distributes the Comnet ATM series. The credit union-owned network has 390 participants, and it is connected to 13,500 ATMs.
Bank Gives Away $20,000
NEW YORK-Heavily guarded officials of Washington Mutual handed out $20,000 to passersby Wednesday to advertise the giant banking company's elimination of its $1.50 ATM surcharge fee. The company gave away change purses containing the former fee in quarters emblazoned with the slogan: "The Buck-Fifty Stops Here." The country's largest S&L had eliminated the unpopular fee to non-customers using its ATMs in Chicago and Los Angeles last month and the change in New York and New Jersey represents a bid to lure customers from rival banks.
Arizona CU To Offer Health Plans
PHOENIX-Arizona State Savings & CU said it has signed with PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc., to offer individual health insurance to students attending three local colleges: University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University. The health plans, offered through the credit union's wholly owned Arizona Financial Network CUSO, will provide affordable coverage for basic health care, access to an expanded network of doctors, pharmacy benefits, and fitness and weight-management programs. PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the largest health insurance providers with more than three million health plan members and nine specialty plan members.
Tall, Masked Man Robs CU
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-A masked man standing as tall as six-foot-10, walked into Advantage FCU and made off with an undetermined amount of cash. The man, who was wearing a gray sweat pants, a gray hooded sweatshirt and a black face covering, showed a gun then quickly fled the scene, police said. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Bank Plans 163 Store Branches
MINNEAPOLIS-In one of the largest plans of its kind, U.S. Bank hopes to open as many as 163 in-store branches in Safeway and Vons supermarkets in three western states over the next few years. Each of the new supermarket branches will be open seven days and have an ATM. Some of the new branches will replace ones operated by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The new in-store branches, planned for California, Arizona and Nevada, will give the regional banking giant 446 in-store branches in 19 states, with 30 retailers, one of the largest networks of in-store branches.
Bank Plans Photo ATM Cards
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-The Cambridge Trust Co. said it is introducing a photo ATM and debit card with a customer's photo on the front of the card as a new means of fraud prevention. The picture on the 'PhotoCard' will be digitized and embossed on the plastic.
The cards will be available free to new and existing checking account customers of the Cambridge Trust Co.
91-Year-Old Robber Is Sentenced
ABILENE, Texas-A 91-year-old bandit, believed to be the oldest bank robber in the U.S., is expected to spend the rest of his days behind bars after his arrest last month for a failed hold-up- for the third time in the past five years. This time, it appears Hunter 'Red' Roundtree is at the end of the road. Roundtree, who said he turned to a life of crime after spending his savings on younger women, faces up to 20 years in prison for his latest arrest, after a hold-up Aug. 12 at American Bank here. Roundtree made off with $2,000 of the bank's cash but was pulled over about a half hour later cruising towards home in his trademark white Buick. The aged desperado was arrested minutes after robbing a Biloxi, Miss., bank in 1998, and again after hitting a Pensacola, Fla., bank a year later. He served three years in prison for the Florida robbery, as the state's oldest inmate.
