Card Briefs: Wells Fargo to Test Talking ATMs for Blind

Wells Fargo & Co. said it plans to introduce "talking automated teller machines" for blind and vision-impaired customers.

Wells Fargo, which is working with the California Council of the Blind, will pilot 20 machines in and around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

The machines will use special jacks to give private voice instructions on how to deposit money, withdraw cash, transfer funds, and buy stamps.

Wells Fargo said that next year it will begin installing talking machines at its 1,500 ATM locations in California.

Catherine Skivers, president of the California Council of the Blind, said Wells Fargo "has shown a tremendous commitment to the blind and low- vision community, more than any other financial services company that we know of."

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