WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. - The NYCE network has added two more bank associations to its SUM program: the Michigan Association of Community Bankers and the Community Bankers Association of New Hampshire.
Under SUM, participating institutions let the cardholders of other program members use their automated teller machines surcharge-free. Account holders of nonparticipating financial institutions still must pay surcharges.
NYCE began the program two years ago in Massachusetts with 120 members and about 1,000 ATMs. It now has 370 financial institutions and 2,380 ATMs throughout the country.
NYCE, which administers all facets of the program, came up with the name and the logo that appears on participating teller machines. It has also created brochures, counter cards, and posters to promote the program. A Web site, www.sum-atm.com, lists the locations of participating machines and is updated weekly.
Susan A. Zawodniak, a vice president at NYCE and the executive director of its network, said the program was designed to help smaller community banks compete with large banks that have big ATM programs.
The community banks "were worried about deposit loss," because people might be persuaded to open accounts with larger banks to avoid ATM surcharges, she said. "The Sum program allows financial institutions to take advantage of combined resources and as a result offer their cardholders access to a wide range of surcharge-free ATMs."
