News

U.S. Bank, bcgi to sell prepaid wireless minutes at ATMs

November 14, 2004

MINNEAPOLIS and WOBURN, Mass. - U.S. Bank, the third largest ATM operator in the United States, has teamed with Boston Communications Group, Inc. (BCGI) to provide bcgi Wireless Wallet at U.S. Bank ATMs throughout the country, according to a news release.

The first major bank in the nation to offer prepaid top-up through its ATMs, U.S. Bank will be supporting the nation's major wireless prepaid service offerings. bcgi Wireless Wallet is currently available at nearly 4,000 U.S. Bank ATMs in 24 states.

"With more than 15 million prepaid cell phone users nationwide, we are certain that this service will be a welcome enhancement. Now they can get minutes in seconds with a check card from most issuers," said Patty Henneke, vice president of U.S. Bank ATM Banking. "It's a creative way to be of even greater service to our customers or anyone who uses our ATMs. As the bank that makes service its priority, that's important."

Unlike the traditional recharge process that requires customers to visit a retail store, buy a scratch card and then redeem it, bcgi Wireless Wallet enables subscribers to conveniently "top up" day or night, whenever they are near a U.S. Bank ATM. Subscribers simply 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.

By uniting U.S. Bank with mobile operators, bcgi Wireless Wallet enables all parties to offer enhanced services designed to strengthen customer relationships, increase ATM traffic and encourage more frequent wireless top-up purchases. According to Boston-based research firm The Yankee Group, by the end of 2007, prepaid and hybrid-prepaid plans will account for more than 25 percent of all wireless subscribers in the United States. Expanded recharge locations are a necessity for carriers looking to attract and retain those subscribers.