ISO Committee Formation – ATMIA is pulling together honest hard working individuals to lend us their experience and brain power in order to solve the really tough issues of the day. The committee has begun by focusing on two issues; 1) Compliance issues - lets fix this paperwork nightmare. Why can’t sponsor banks and processors agree on one format?  Is all this reporting really necessary?  2) Interchange - is it too late to get our dime back?  “Many issues face us today and many more will face us in the future, stated committee co-chair, Jim Burns, President of ecash, Inc. After watching the other ATMIA committees function and witnessing first hand the powerful results they have achieved, I am convinced that there is great value in being organized and focused. I would suggest that there is power in numbers.”  If you are interested in more information or participating on this committee, please feel free to contact lana@atmia.com.

ATMIA US Industry Defense Fund (USIDF) – The US and Executive Boards of ATMIA have approved to establish a US industry defense fund to be used by ATMIA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) to cover the costs of working with various state and federal authorities regarding any proposed legislation which could adversely affect ATM businesses and the industry as a whole. This fund will be properly registered and audited as part of the ATM Industry Association’s annual audit and will be managed in a transparent way by the Government Relations Committee, reporting to the Executive board of ATMIA. All contributors and sponsors of this fund will have the option of being part of the voting process within the GRC for approving disbursements from the fund. In addition, contributors and sponsors of the fund will receive public recognition in ATMIA newsletters, press releases and announcements at annual US conferences as well as on a special webpage on which their logos and links will be showcased. 

Over the past two years, the GRC has successfully monitored, contested or initiated over 100 bills that would affect the ATM Industry. For more detailed information on the activities of the GRC, or to contribute to the USIDF, please contact lana@atmia.com.

International Surcharge Bills…

• Florida  HB 361 – Has been sent to the Governor for signature. 
  
  
• Utah HB  365 – As per a bulletin from VISA late afternoon on April 28th – Visa/Plus Upholds Access Fee Registration  for International Transactions Originating in Utah
  
  “Recently Visa was made aware of a change to a statute in the state of Utah regarding the assessment of access fees on ATM transactions. Visa has determined after reviewing the statute that it will not add Utah to the list of states that permit access fees to be assessed on Visa and Plus international cardholders for VISA and PLUS transactions originating in Utah.”   
  
  ATMIA will try to get clarification on this and report back.

Sponsoring Financial Institutions (SFI) MasterCard Sub-Committee – The SFI Committee, as a group of MasterCard members, representing over 278,000 ATMs in the U.S. and Canada, not taking into consideration our other six international chapters, respectfully requested that MasterCard extend the deadline for ATM Merchant Ownership due diligence on all existing ATMs from June 1, 2006 to November 1, 2006. This extension was granted providing for a consistent industry timeframe for compliance. This sub-committee continues to work with MasterCard on areas of concern or areas needing clarification.  MasterCard participated on a conference call the end of April where SFI’s were able to ask various questions relating to the ATM Merchant Ownership due diligence. MasterCard has been working very closely with ATMIA and appreciates the input and welcomes constructive dialogue with relevant industry stakeholders.

A member of this sub-committee has put together an ATM Operator Matrix of Visa and MasterCard requirements.  If this is of interest to you, please contact lana@atmia.com.

Debit Council PIN POS Best Practices Task Force – This sub-committee is currently defining the POS Security Lifecycle, determining the committees Terms of References (mission, values, key result areas, and protocol), and outline the timeline of outputs.  As of right now, the first goal is to have a 1st draft best practice manual for review and input by mid June.  If you would like to participate in this initiative, feel free to contact lana@atmia.com.

ATMIA Responds to American Banker Article – The article entitled “Secret Service in ATM Probe” written by Daniel Wolfe which appeared in the American Banker, April 17th, quoted Jerry Silva, of the Tower Group, making subjective and inaccurate statements, as follows: "You should never use an ATM in a convenience store," he [Mr Silva] said. "It's an unregulated market. You take your life in your own hands when you go to those things.”  ATMIA countered this article with a letter to Mr. Silva outlining actual facts about ATM crime showing the inaccuracy of these quoted remarks in the American Banker article. 

ATM Risk Management Workshop – The ATM Industry Association and Palm Desert National Bank hosted a One-Day ATM Risk Management Workshop in New York City, on May 11, 2006.  This workshop focused on fraudulent activity and burglaries that are encountered in New York.  This time was used for conversation and pulling together ways to prevent the continued problems with ATM’s in the area. Speakers included; Investigators from the NY State Police, Agents from the US Secret Service and FBI, and Network Representatives discussing ATM risk from their perspective.

ATMIA Latin America – ATMIA will be launching the Latin America Chapter during the ATM Security Americas event this September.  It was decided to rename ATMIA’s Fall conference, previously known as Conference West, to "ATM Security Americas", covering ATM fraud in Latin America, USA and Canada, and having 1 track focused specifically on Latin America, including roundtable discussions, case studies and presentations.  For this year only, it will be held in California, on the West Coast, but in future years it will be held in locations decided by this group, convenient for the Latin America delegates (for example, Miami).