Members Equity weighs up ATM options
Members Equity Bank will develop an ATM network, although how has not yet been decided.The new chief executive officer of Members Equity bank, Jamie McPhee, said the bank had not yet worked out an ATM strategy, but has been talking to some of the major operators about options."This is what we are just beginning to work on now - an ATM strategy," said McPhee."We basically have three options and which way we go has not yet been decided."We can do a deal with one of the major networks, build our own proprietary network, or rebrand someone else's ATMs."Currently Members Equity customers can use Westpac ATMs without charge under a long-standing arrangement. McPhee said the deal with Westpac was cheap and affordable for Members Equity."But there are branding benefits and other benefits to our own ATMs. In the absence of a significant branch network we are looking at an ATM network," said McPhee.Currently Members Equity has 18 machines of its own, with 13 of those located in branches. McPhee confirmed that he had been talking with "a large manufacturer from Korea" and was investigating the possibility of bringing a new generation of ATMs to Australia."There are ATMs in Asia where you can deposit coins and do all sorts of things - they are not just a hole in the wall for cash withdrawals but almost like branches in terms of the things you can do."We don't have an old legacy network so we can look at things like that."That work may have to wait for a while yet. Members Equity has just signed a lease over BP's old HQ in Melbourne's Elizabeth St. Six hundred head office staff will soon move from Westpac's tower in Collins St where the bank has been based for the last ten years.