Study finds CU ATM networks to expand by 24%

<p>WASHINGTON – Credit union ATM networks are expected to continue their energetic expansion over the next two years by adding 24% more machines. According to a recent Callahan & Associates survey, the ATMs will be evenly divided between cash-dispensing and full service models. The Callahan survey was sent to the industry’s 2,490 credit unions with over $30 million in assets and responses were about equally divided among the top four peer groups. The 201 responding credit unions in the study, which already operate 1,993 ATMs, plan to add 480 new ones in the next two years indicating a solid expansion, at a slightly slower pace than during the past two years. In 2000-2001, these credit unions added 529 new ATMs. “Even though ATM growth rates are slowing somewhat, the expansion trend is still continuing,” said Charles A. Filson, president of Callahan & Associates. “The ongoing deployment of ATMs of both types underscores how important the credit union industry understands it is to provide expanding `points of presence’ 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” There is a shift in the winds regarding full service ATMs. According to the 3rd Quarter Research & Data Report, full-service ATMs accounted for 53.5% of new ATMs in the last two years with cash-dispensing models making up 46.5%. Over the next two years, these credit unions say just 49.4% of their new ATMs will be full-service, while 50.5% will be of the cash-dispensing type. The survey also found that each full service ATM generates an average of 7,800 monthly transactions, more than 2.5 times the 2,900 transactions averaged at each cash-dispensing model in a month. For more information on Callahan’s 3rd Quarter Research & Data Report visit www.CreditUnions.com.</p>