Citibank Rolling Out Talking ATMs

There's one thing a human bank teller can do that an ATM can't--but not for long. Citibank is rolling out 10 talking ATMs, the first step in an initiative that's expected to put at least one talker in each of its 370 banking centers nationwide by October 2002.

The new ATMs use standard text-to-speech technology and earphones to read directions to disabled and elderly customers who can't read the screen themselves.

Other banks--including Bank of America, Bank One, and Wells Fargo--are working on similar projects, motivated both by the desire to be more accessible to disabled and aging customers, and by the threat of lawsuits.