Banknorth and the National Federation of the Blind Announce Plan for Talking ATMs.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2002

Banknorth, NA ("Banknorth") will install voice-activated ("talking") automated teller machines (ATMs) at its 400 ATM locations in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and upstate New York, according to an agreement announced today by the bank's holding company, Banknorth Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Banknorth plans to launch a pilot program to install talking ATMs in its Vermont locations later this year. That pilot effort will be followed by a five-year, $4.8 million rollout program in which talking ATMs will be installed in all six states in which Banknorth operates.

Talking ATMs offer the only effective means for blind or visually impaired persons to do their banking independently, according to NFB. Banknorth's talking ATMs will enable blind persons to access accounts held with Banknorth, as well as accounts with other banks. Banknorth already provides Braille on its ATMs.

"This plan continues our commitment to offer all of our customers a full range of financial services," says William J. Ryan, Banknorth Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we may not be as large as some of the banks in the nation that have announced programs of this scope, we are just as committed to serving our entire customer base, including those who face significant challenges in fully participating in America's banking system."

"We applaud Banknorth for working with NFB to assure that all of its ATMs are fully accessible to the blind community," notes NFB President Dr. Marc Maurer. "In complying with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act that require all information used in ATMs to be accessible to and independently usable by blind persons, Banknorth has taken an important step toward helping blind people live and work independently in today's technology-dependent world."

Talking ATMs provide step-by-step audio instructions that guide blind customers through bank transactions independently, according to NFB. The voice guidance technology employed in talking ATMs is accessed by plugging personal headphones into a universal audio jack installed in the ATM.

Dr. Maurer points out that while ATMs typically have Braille keypads and labels for customers who are blind or visually impaired, that feature represents an ineffective accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Not all persons who are blind can read Braille," explains Dr. Maurer. "Moreover, Braille keypads and labels are static. They do not provide accessible and independently usable computer screen instructions to guide a blind customer through a bank transaction. As a result, blind customers who do not have access to talking ATMs have little choice but to rely on others to do their banking for them."

Banknorth plans to install its first talking ATM in Burlington, Vermont at the main office (111 Main Street) of Banknorth Vermont. After installation and a period of monitoring that pilot location, Banknorth will launch a staged program during which it will install voice-activated ATMs at 20 to 30 percent of its current locations each year for the next five years.

Banknorth will begin that effort by year-end 2002, with the more heavily populated areas in each of the states in which it operates receiving priority. Most of Banknorth's ATM locations have a single ATM that will see installation of a voice-activated ATM. Where there is more than one ATM at a given location, Banknorth will install one voice-activated ATM.

"We are very proud that Banknorth's first voice-activated ATM will be in Burlington," says Brenda Jeanne Patterson, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Vermont. "NFB's Vermont chapter played a major role in developing this program with Banknorth and believes this kind of partnership can serve as a model for all companies in assuring that blind and visually impaired persons have full accessibility."

Banknorth Group, Inc. headquartered in Portland, Maine, is a $21.1 billion financial services holding company. Its banking subsidiary, Banknorth, NA, in addition to Banknorth Vermont, operates banking divisions in Maine (Peoples Heritage Bank), New Hampshire (Bank of New Hampshire), Massachusetts (Banknorth Massachusetts), Connecticut (Banknorth Connecticut) and in upstate New York (Evergreen Bank). The Company and Bank also operate subsidiaries in money management, investment services, insurance, mortgage banking, leasing, government banking, merchant services and other financial services.

NFB is a consumer-based organization of more than 50,000 blind people throughout the U.S. whose primary purpose is to promote security, opportunity, and equality for those who are blind or visually impaired.