Hibernia Unveils `Talking ATM' for the Visually Impaired; Bank is First in Louisiana to Announce This Service.

Business Editors

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2001

Banking is now more accessible to the visually impaired, as Hibernia National Bank (NYSE:HIB) today unveiled its first audio-assisted automated teller machine (ATM), often called a "talking ATM."

The bank is the first in Louisiana to announce availability of a talking ATM and anticipates installing a similar service in other Louisiana and east Texas markets by the end of 2002.

Janet Pesce, an instructor with the Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, demonstrated audio-assisted banking using the new ATM located in the elevator lobby of Hibernia's main office at 313 Carondelet St. Wearing a headset, she was easily able to use the machine, which does not rely on Braille.

"It's highly significant when a service as important as banking becomes completely accessible and understandable to a person who is blind or visually impaired," says Bill Price, president of the Lighthouse for the Blind. "ATMs with Braille are actually inoperable to people who are blind, because after they push a button marked in Braille, they have no idea what the written screen instructions are telling them to do."

Hibernia's talking ATM is part of a national movement toward establishing audio-assisted machines for banking. "We're proud to be on the forefront in Louisiana," says Kyle Waters, chairman of Hibernia's Greater New Orleans Region. "ATM banking, which sighted people take for granted, has been impossible for thousands of people in our markets. This service will begin to make a difference."

There are an estimated 7,300 visually impaired and blind people in Orleans Parish and 65,050 across Louisiana.

William Arnold, Hibernia's ATM delivery channel manager, has been working with the visually impaired and blind community in New Orleans to ensure that the service meets their needs.

"They're excited, and so are we," says Arnold. "When sight-impaired people can bank on their own instead of relying on others, they're more independent. Talking ATMs allow them to make deposits and withdrawals, buy stamps or do anything else a sighted customer can do."

Hibernia's machine begins each transaction by asking "Do you want voice prompting?" and telling the customer which button to press for voice-guided service. To protect the client's privacy and account security, instructions are delivered through headsets.

Each machine has a 1/8-inch audio jack that accepts most standard headsets and earpieces. Hibernia customers can either use their own headsets or request a set in the lobby during regular business hours.

Dr. Ann Butcher hails Hibernia's talking ATM as an important step toward self-reliance for people who are blind or visually impaired. Butcher is an assistant professor of health systems management in Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She also is director of the Lighthouse/Tulane Project, which addresses the needs of the blind and visually impaired within the five-parish area that includes New Orleans.

Butcher notes that banks began reaching out to their visually impaired customers after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. But their efforts were helpful only to a point, she says. "ATMs with Braille on the keypad numbers didn't get you very far," says Butcher. "In order to actually obtain money, you would need to memorize each step of the transaction."

Hibernia's efforts are especially helpful to the elderly, says Butcher, because more than half of the visually impaired are over age 65. As life expectancy increases, so does the incidence of blindness, Butcher explains.

In 1999, more than 10 million U.S. citizens were considered visually impaired. That number is expected to triple by the year 2030, Butcher says.

Arnold says that the ATM at Hibernia's main office will not remain the only talking ATM in Hibernia's banking network. "As we upgrade machines in areas of town with large number of visually impaired clients, we'll convert them to talking ATMs," he says. "In 2002, we're envisioning that this service will be available in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and other major cities served by Hibernia."

Some of the talking ATMs are likely to be installed at drive-up locations, he adds, since visually impaired people often ride to the bank in a cab or with friends who drive.

Hibernia's talking ATM was manufactured by Diebold. Inc., the nation's leading manufacturer of ATMs. Diebold joined with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to develop cost-effective voice-guided ATMs that can be readily accessed by the blind without assistance from sighted persons.

Hibernia, a Forbes 500 company, has $16.6 billion in assets and 261 locations in 34 Louisiana parishes, 16 Texas counties, and two Mississippi counties. Hibernia Corporation's common stock (HIB) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. News releases, product and service information and other useful data are available at www.hibernia.com. Requests for information about products and services can be e-mailed to [e-mail].