by Lainey Feingold
On December 4, 2000, Bank of America announced the installation of Florida’s first talking ATMs. Hundreds more talking ATMs will be installed in Florida by Bank of America over the next two years as a result of a national agreement reached with the bank earlier this year by ACB’s California affiliate, the California Council of the Blind.
The bank’s press release included a quote from Doug Hall, chair of the access committee of ACB’s Florida affiliate, the Florida Council of the Blind. Doug praised the bank’s announcement, saying, “We are thrilled that Bank of America has taken this important step in providing independent access to banking services in our state. We applaud Bank of America and urge other banks in Florida to follow its example.”
There are already over 300 talking ATMs in California as a result of the California Council of the Blind’s efforts, and Bank of America has agreed to install one talking ATM at each of its ATM locations across the country. CCB’s attorneys will begin negotiations with the bank in the spring to determine the exact schedule for these installations.
The California lawyers who negotiated the talking ATM agreement with Bank of America have set up a toll-free number and an e-mail address so people can easily contact them about talking ATMs. The e-mail address is bank@sgdblaw.com and the phone number is (888) 316-8870. As one of CCB’s lawyers who negotiated the first agreements, I encourage all of you to use the phone or e-mail to suggest new locations for either Bank of America talking ATMs nationwide or Wells Fargo talking ATMs in California, to notify CCB about any problems with the machines, to let us know what you like about the machines, or to find out about bringing talking ATMs to your state!
Here are the Bank of America Talking ATM locations in Florida. The exact California locations can be found on the CCB website at http//www.acb.org/ccb/atms.html. California and Florida locations are also posted on the web site of CCB’s attorneys at http//www.sgdblaw.com/talkingatmsfr.htm.
Cocoa Beach: Causeway, 4300 N. Atlantic Avenue
Coconut Creek: 4803 Coconut Creek Parkway
Fort Lauderdale: Galleria Mall, 2414 E. Sunrise Boulevard
Broward & 441: 3800 W. Broward Boulevard
Jacksonville: Cobblestone, 2709 Monument Road
Downtown Jacksonville: 50 N. Laura Street
Miami: 701 Brickell Avenue
Ocala: 326 E. Silver Springs Boulevard
Orlando: 55 W. Church Street
Fashion Square: 3117 E. Colonial Drive
St. Petersburg: Exxon — Sun Coast, 6201 US Highway 19 North
Tampa: Hillsborough County Courthouse, 419 Peirce Street
Westshore Mall: 100 N. Westshore Boulevard
Davis Island: 337 E. Davis Boulevard