News

Bill-payment kiosks gaining ground in c-stores

April 2, 2006

Star News Online: Convenience stores, best known to weary motorists as sources for drinks and snack chips, are starting to gain a reputation as good places to pay bills, cash checks, send money and buy cellphone minutes. ATMs have long been staples in these stores, but now several major chains are installing kiosks that are able to do a lot more.

Way ahead of the curve is 7-Eleven, which is introducing its second wave of custom-made terminals called Vcoms this year. Often referred to as "ATMs on steroids," the more than 1,000 Vcom terminals dispense cash, sell Verizon services, handle bill payments and let customers send money to other people. They also cash checks to the penny, simultaneously snapping front-and-back digital images of the checks and dispensing a receipt with the images on it.

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