A recent white paper written by ATM Marketplace and sponsored by Opt Connect, a wireless and communications provider, sheds light on how going mobile with ATM machine operability can actually help owners comply with the new mandates in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as save overall costs.

According to the white paper, switching an ATM machine's mode of operation from a dial-up or cable internet connection to a wireless router can help reduce costs for the owner or operator. In fact, landlines for these types of tasks may often cost up to $42 per month whereas a typical wireless connection comes to roughly $20 per month, more than half of the standard connections.

Furthermore, by switching to wireless, owners and operators are granted the freedom to place the machine anywhere within the store. This helps with ADA compliance as the ATM can be placed in a location where disabled persons can easily access it. It also alludes to  the third benefit of wireless, which is security.

By using a wireless router, an owner and operator can place the machine anywhere in the store, allowing for increased visibility against skimmers, as well as the security perks that come from the use of mobile to mobile (M2M) technologies that can isolate certain transactions and keep the information clear from public internet connections that may pick up this sensitive, consumer information.

On top of offering advice for ATM machine owners to become wireless, the white paper also gives guidance on how these owners or operators can prove they have made efforts to, or have obtained ADA compliance.

"Experts recommend that IADs [independent ATM deployers] take photos and measurements to prove they have made efforts to meet ADA requirements, such as accessible placement, voice guidance, Braille signage and input controls for visually-impaired individuals," said the report.

If retailers or merchants wish to purchase an ATM, they may want to seek the guidance of an experienced ATM reseller. 

As the banking industry changes to adapt to new technologies that make it easier for consumers to access their accounts, the ATM industry must not only keep up with these changes but also with new laws enacted by the federal government that make it easier for Americans with disabilities to access their accounts.

Robert Jahoda, 30, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania has filed lawsuits against a slew of Pennsylvanian bank branches for having an ATM machine not compliant with the new provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, whose deadline for compliance was more than a month ago on March 15.

Jahoda, so far, has sued the Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, First Commonwealth Bank, Commercial Bank and Trust of Pennsylvania, Fidelity Bank, Charleroi Federal Savings Bank, First National Community Bank and Home Savings and Loan of Youngstown, Ohio. And, according to Jahoda's lawyer, Bruce Carlson, more lawsuits are soon to come.

The March 15 update of the ADA requires that ATM machine owners and operators update their machines with a headphone jack and voice enabling software. These updates will allow customers with visual impairments to plug in headphones and listen to instructions so they may access their accounts independently, rather than seeking assistance from a bank employee or fellow patron which could put their financial information in a very vulnerable position.

"A visually impaired individual would plug a set of headphones into the machines, and that would trigger voice prompting which would guide the customer through the transaction," said Carlson.

Carlson also said that Jahoda found a non-compliant ATM at all of the locations he has filed lawsuits against.

So far, all the banks under question have released statements to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette stating that they either believe they are already compliant or making progress toward becoming ADA compliant.

If retailers or merchants wish to purchase an ATM machine that meets all ADA requirements, issuing the help of third-party reseller may make this investment easier and efficient for both consumer and owner. 

Before March 15, many ATM owners and operators took steps to meet the new requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, ATM owners that were not able to comply are now at risk of receiving a $50 fine, once a month, for every non-compliant ATM.

As explained in previous posts, most of the law's provisions are designed to assist the visually impaired so they may be able to independently use ATMs. The new features many owners installed to ensure compliance included include headphone jacks so customers may listen to instructions and as braille placards on pin pads.

"Essentially, you just need to have a headphone jack and a braille decal letting the visually impaired user know where the headphone jack is," Jack Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Triton – a major retail ATM manufacturer of both indoor and outdoor ATMs – explained to WLOX in a TV news station based in Long Beach, Mississippi. "They plug in their headphone jack, the screen will go blank so nobody can look over their shoulder to see what they are doing and it talks them through the transaction. So it tells them what buttons to press on the pin pad to complete their transaction."

While most manufacturers and and merchants scramble to become ADA compliant to avoid added costs, Triton has been viewing the new rules through a different perspective. The Mississippi-based has been spending time buying back their non-compliant ATMs from owners and refurbishing them to meet ADA standards. Owners of an older Triton ATM may consider this an option to update their ATMs.

By purchasing a new ATM from a quality manufacturer, ATM owners can rest assured that they will be given assistance through future transitions. As such, purchasing a Triton ATM – even through a discount reseller – could provide advantages for owners that are unmatched by competitors.