Disability Compliance Bulletin
January 11, 2002

Talking ATMs installed in three western states

A California bank became the first bank in the country to install
full-service talking
automated teller machines in the western states of Washington and
Oregon, as part
of a plan to add the machines at almost all of its locations over the
next eight
months.

Union Bank of California N.A., a subsidiary of UnionBanCal Corp., is the
third largest
commercial bank in California. It has banking offices in California,
Oregon and Washington.

Talking ATMs deliver spoken instructions to customers via the use of
audio jacks that
are included within the machines. They are primarily intended to benefit
customers
with visual impairments, although they can also be useful to senior
citizens and
customers with dyslexia.

Union Bank also announced that it will provide financial materials in
alternative
formats such as Braille, audiocassette and large print.

"Providing talking ATMs is an essential aspect of serving our blind or
visually impaired
customers with access to financial services," said Richard Hartnack,
vice chairman
of Union Bank. "We consider these steps integral to our commitment to
serving this
community."

California attorney Lainey Feingold, who has been instrumental in
increasing the prevalence
of talking ATMs nationwide, said that the bank's action will improve the
ability
of people with disabilities to maintain their independence. "Seniors,
persons with
dyslexia, as well as persons who are blind or have vision impairments
will now be
able to independently access their financial information, a critical
component to
maintaining independence," Feingold said.


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