Arizona, Nevada Credit Unions Open ATMs At McDonald's - Customers Eat

Credit unions in Arizona and Nevada are serving up cash at ATMs installed in some McDonald's restaurants.

The credit unions in the two states are following on the heels of credit unions in North Carolina and Florida, which have already placed automated teller machines at McDonald's.

In fact, the credit unions acted on a tip from one of their Florida peers that McDonald's Corp. was looking for ATM partners in the two sunbaked states.

"Based upon that, we contacted them and got together some credit unions to try out a pilot," said Ed Barthelme, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Arizona Credit Union League Services Inc., a subsidiary of the state trade group.

The organization is coordinating a joint venture by five credit unions in Arizona and one in Nevada to place ATMs in the fast-food restaurants. So far there are machines at three locations in Phoenix and two in Las Vegas, Mr. Barthelme said.

"It's important for credit unions to make sure they maintain some space in the retail payment business and this is a way to do that," he said.

The cash-dispensing ATMs, called "McMoney machines, were first placed in March as a pilot program. The trial period runs through the end of the year. Because the machines have been used frequently, Mr. Barthelme is confident the program will continue.

He predicted that next year as many as 15 credit unions will be involved, with machines in up to 40 McDonald's restaurants.

Mr. Barthelme said the vendors involved - Diebold Inc., Fiserv Inc., and Electronic Data Systems Inc. - also are counting on the program to succeed. The three have given their services for free during the pilot and hope to bring in more business if the McMoney machines take off.

Diebold donated the machines. Fiserv drives the ATMs in Arizona, while EDS handles the machines in Nevada.

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