IUSA pushes for Bank One ATMs

The IU Student Association has been working for several months to bring Bank One ATMs back to campus and has proposed several possible locations to the University. IUSA officials said it would be a number of months before students see the machines on campus.\nIU kicked Bank One and its eight ATMs off campus late last summer after the company did not make the University an acceptable fee-sharing offer.\nAfter surveying the student body, IUSA recommended that ATMs be placed in Ballantine Hall and the Kelley School of Business. This would put ATMs on both sides of campus, IUSA members said. The Main Library is the third choice. Placing a bank machine in the Indiana Memorial Union is also under consideration. \nThe University's banking service director, Donna Broadstreet, is overseeing the administration side of the process. \n"That's a wish list only," Broadstreet said, referring to where the ATMs will be placed.\nBefore the process goes forward, "we've got to come together with the people who run those buildings to see if getting bank machines in there is possible," said senior Jolene Carper, IUSA service director.\nIU's architect office also have to be consulted, and electricity and phone lines will need to be installed. Broadstreet also said that a bid from various banks is necessary.\nIUSA is pushing for Bank One.\n"We're focusing on Bank One because it is in 14 different states," Carper said. "(With Bank One), you're not going to have to change your bank account after college."\nBank One has expressed interest. Last summer, they issued a proposal to the IU.\n"Bank One is willing to bring in ATMS and run the ATMs," Carper said.\nBut Broadstreet was not as confident about Bank One's statement of interest.\n"That's a very generic, open statement," Broadstreet said. "It doesn't have any weight behind it."\nA Bank One representative said the process is now in the hands of IU's administration.\n"We are waiting for a response from the IU administration," said Nancy North, a spokeswoman for Bank One.\nIUSA has also been working toward placing an ATM in the IMU. The IMU and Bank One are now supposed to be working this situation out. North said she was waiting for contact from the Union.\nRoy Lovell, associate director of administrative services for the IMU, said that he has no idea what is happening but that the Union was ready for the bank machines. \nThe Union is being dealt with separately because it has its own rules as to who might come in and set up. Bank One will have to pay a rental fee for the space. \nIUSA said it feels the bank machines will help boost sales in the Union. \nMembers are concerned students are spending their money near the closest ATM -- on Kirkwood near Jimmy Johns and the Smoothie King -- instead of in the Union.\nHaving the machines on campus will also provide convenience and safety to students, Carper said. \n"We decided to take this on because we heard an overwhelming call from students for more accessible banking facilities," Carper said.\nCarper said that there is a strong possibility that this will work out and that the ATMs will be ready sometime in the spring semester.\nBroadstreet doubts the outcome. \n"Nothing is in process right now," Broadstreet said. "We're talking months down the road."\nBut all parties are talking and things are still moving forward.\n"It is important that people know this isn't going to happen over night," Carper said. "We're trying to get it done. The longer we wait the harder it will be to bring them back"