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Cardtronics Inc.'s $3.4 million net loss for the second quarter ended June 30 (CardLine, 8/12) includes a $1.3 million pretax charge for its United Kingdom operations that stems from delays in obtaining EMV certification with one of the major networks. Link, the UK's shared interbank ATM network, during the quarter granted EMV certification to Bank Machine Ltd., an independent sales organization Cardtronics operates in England, says J. Chris Brewster, Cardtronics CEO. However, a second large network, which Brewster did not name, has not certified Bank Machine. Certification is important because thieves using counterfeit cards stole cash from Bank Machine ATMs. If a network is not fully certified, it bears the cost of the fraud as the transaction acquirer, Brewster says. Cardtronics owned an average of 32,801 transacting ATMs worldwide during the quarter. Antonini sees more opportunity to grow Cardtronics' business overseas. In the UK, Bank Machine owned 2,413 ATMs at the end of the quarter compared with 1,583 machines a year earlier. Cardtronics Mexico owned 1,581 ATMs at the end of the quarter, up from 627 a year earlier. Cardtronics hired more staff to expand into Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, Antonini says. As part of an international initiative, the company named Michael H. Clinard president of Global Services and Rick Updyke president of Global Development.
