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Settlement agreement where Bank One (now Chase) became the first bank to commit to installing every new ATM as a Talking ATM, along with installation of 1,500 Talking ATMs and comprehensive website accessibility.
Plaintiff
Kelly Pierce and Anna Byrne
Defendant
Bank One, National Association
Date Filed
June 1, 2003
Jurisdiction
United States (nationwide, structured negotiations)
WCAG Level
Level AAThis settlement agreement, entered into in June 2003, was the second agreement Bank One signed with Chicago blind advocates Kelly Pierce and Anna Byrne. The agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. Key commitments: - Installation of 1,500 Talking ATMs by December 31, 2004 - Commitment to install every new ATM as a Talking ATM (first bank to make this commitment) - Website accessibility compliance with WCAG guidelines - Comprehensive alternative formats policy (Braille, large print, audio) - Provision of headphones for Talking ATMs - Staff training programs Bank One's commitment to install all new ATMs as Talking ATMs was particularly significant, as it established that accessibility should be built into new installations rather than requiring retrofitting. Bank One was subsequently acquired by Chase Bank, and as of March 2008, Chase had over 9,000 Talking ATMs nationwide, demonstrating the long-term impact of this agreement.
This agreement was revolutionary for establishing that all new ATMs should be accessible from installation, rather than requiring retrofitting. This principle has since been adopted by many financial institutions. The agreement's impact was amplified when Bank One was acquired by Chase, which now operates one of the largest networks of Talking ATMs in the country.