Bank Machine, the UK’s Premier ATM Operator, responds to the Government announcement on free-to-use cash machine installations in the last 18 months.

“I am delighted that Kitty Ussher has specifically recognised the contribution of the Independent ATM operators in relation to the provision of Free-To-Use ATMs in low income areas." confirms Ron Delnevo, Managing Director of Bank Machine. "Of course , Bank Machine’s involvement with the provision of Free-To-Use ATMs pre dates the work of the "social inclusion" Task Force: I am delighted to say that we now have over 650 such machines in the UK, providing Free ATM services in low income areas, military bases, police establishments, hospitals and many other locations."

Ron concludes "It has always been a myth that Independent ATM Operators solely provide Pay-To-Use ATMs. The role of Independents like Bank Machine in providing both Free-To-Use and Pay-To-Use ATMs has been the driving force behind the vast improvements made in UK ATM services over the last decade."

Notes to editors:

1. Bank Machine created the UK's independent ATM market ten years ago and now has 2,500 cash machines in locations that include cinemas, garage forecourts and retail outlets - ranging from Selfridges to convenience stores.

2. It began by installing pay-to-use cash machines in convenient locations but has since built a free-to-use network - which already includes over 650 ATMs located in, for example, NHS hospitals, military bases and low-income areas.

3. Bank Machine - a division of Cardtronics Inc., the World’s largest ATM operator with over 31,000 machines - has around 100 staff in the UK.

4. For more information about Bank Machine, please visit its website (www.bankmachine.com) or contact Quintus's Fran Cooke (020 7340 6260 / fran@quintuspa.com).