Halifax has become the first high-street bank in the UK to launch multi-currency ATMs that will allow customers to withdraw cash from a current account or credit card in Euros and US Dollars. The machines will accept Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards, dispensing Euro and Dollar banknotes in denominations of 20 at a competitive rate of transfer. Halifax customers and those with other banks will be able to use the ATMs, which charge a 0% commission rate. However, non-Halifax and Bank of Scotland bankers will be forced to pay a charge to use the service, in accordance with their bank's terms and conditions.
The first multi-currency ATM was installed at the bank's Old Broad Street branch within the City of London. Plans are already under way to set up more such machines around Britain. So far, Halifax has confirmed machines for Cannon Street in London Strand, London Fleet Street, Basingstoke, Chester, Dumfries, Southampton and Windsor. More will be rolled out during the next few months.
"Our customers have told us that the immediate availability of foreign currency would be a valuable addition to the wide range of services we already offer, and we plan to roll out more of these multi-currency ATMs in the near future," explained Nigel Turkington, head of travel money at Halifax.
The machines, which are provided by Travelex, should prove popular with people looking to secure their travel money quickly and easily, particularly those going to the US, as the Pound continues to look strong against the US Dollar.
This summer, Tesco Personal Finance started a similar scheme, placing special Euro ATMs in selected Tesco supermarkets around the country. It proved so popular that the company quickly decided to up the number of machines to 20. Customer responses showed that people were especially taken with the fact that they could get their holiday money while doing their shopping.
Steward Gow, head of ATMs at Tesco Personal Finance, explained that convenience is the main appeal of multi-currency ATMs, noting that those placed near UK transport hubs are proving to be the most popular.
"We want to make travel money accessible for our customers. They can pick up their Euros at a competitive exchange rate at no charge whilst they do their weekly shop which is convenient. It's an easy way for customers to get their holiday money," he said.
"Initial customer feedback has been really positive with the emphasis on convenience. We want to improve our customers' experience every time they deal with us and this trial will help us further understand their needs."
The Tesco Euro ATMs can be found at a number of stores, including Ashford, Gatwick, Long Eaton, Altrincham, Glasgow, Bury, Hemel Hempstead, Chester, Finchley, Aylesbury, Port Glasgow, Dover, Hatfield, Andover and Newton Abbott. There are also five ATMs dispersed across Northern Ireland.
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