Peoples Installing Voice-Guided ATMs Across Maine to Assist Blind and Visually Impaired Customers

Peoples Heritage Bank has begun installing voice-guided automated teller machines (ATMs) statewide as part of an effort to make banking more convenient for blind or visually impaired customers.

So far, voice-guided ATMs are in place at three locations in Maine - drive up ATMs at the Peoples branch on Maine Mall Road in South Portland and in Yarmouth, and a walk-up ATM at the Peoples branch in the Great Falls Plaza in Auburn.

Within three years, every Peoples location with an ATM will offer at least one machine that is voice guided, bank officials said. Peoples currently operates 94 ATMs at more than 60 locations throughout Maine.

Voice-guided ATMs offer the only effective means for blind or visually impaired persons to do their banking independently, according to the National Federation for the Blind. The ATMs at Peoples will enable blind persons to access accounts held with Peoples, as well as accounts with other banks. Peoples already provides Braille on its ATMs.

The voice-guided ATMs provide step-by-step audio instructions that guide blind customers through bank transactions. The voice guidance technology is accessed by plugging personal headphones into a universal audio jack installed in the ATM.

"We are committed to providing a full range of financial services to our entire customer base, including those who face significant challenges in fully participating in America's banking system," said Michael W. McNamara, president and CEO of Peoples.

The voice-guided ATMs have drawn positive reviews from the IRIS Network, a statewide organization that provides services, outreach and support to Mainers who are blind or visually impaired.

Tabitha Brecke, a rehabilitation teacher at the IRIS Network in Portland, tested the voice-guided ATM in South Portland and came away impressed. She said the new voice-guided technology afforded more privacy and independence in making a banking transaction. ATMs that provide Braille on the keypad, on the other hand, require assistance in reading the instructions on the computer screen.

"Like everyone else, we value our privacy and our ability to do things independently," said Steven Obremski, president and CEO of the IRIS Network. "I applaud Peoples for making its ATMs fully accessible to the blind community. Peoples has taken an important step toward helping people who are blind or visually impaired live and work independently in today's technology-dependent world."

The installation of voice-guided ATMs in Maine is part of a five-year, $4.8 million rollout program by Portland-based Banknorth Group, Inc. Besides Peoples in Maine, Banknorth operates banks in five other states, including Bank of New Hampshire, Banknorth Vermont, Banknorth Massachusetts, Banknorth Connecticut and Evergreen Bank in upstate New York.

Peoples has more than 60 branches throughout the state, four of which operate as Oxford Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of the bank. For additional information about Peoples, visit online at www.peoplesheritage.com.

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