US Bank, the third-largest ATM operator in the US, has become the nation's first major bank to offer wireless top-up for pre-paid mobile phones via its cash machine network.
The bank has teamed with Boston Communications Group, Inc. to make the bcgi Wireless Wallet available to customers and non-customers alike at nearly 4000 US Bank ATMs in 24 states.
Patty Henneke, vice president of US Bank ATM banking, says of the initiative: "It's a creative way to be of even greater service to our customers or anyone who uses our ATMs."
Mobile subscribers use their debit card as the source of funds, provide the mobile number to identify the prepaid account to be recharged and select the amount of their choice. The funds are made available in the subscriber's wireless account for immediate use or are delivered as a prepaid PIN for later redemption, depending on the wireless provider. The ATM prints a receipt with a record of the transaction and pertinent subscriber information.
The transactions are routed across the network using ACI Worldwide's Base24-bcgi interface.