ATMIA Times May 2007

ATMIA Africa Announces New 2007 Membership Rates

Brian McLean, Executive Director of ATMIA Africa, has announced reduced member rates for ATMIA Africa members effective July 1, 2007. These new rates form part of ATMIA’s currency compensation policy and willl lead to savings ranging from $125 to $850 for ATMIA Africa members depending on the level of membership chosen.

ATMIA recognises that countries whose currencies are weak relative to the US dollar, particularly those in emerging markets, will find the global fees less affordable.

2007 ATMIA Africa Member Rates

Type of Membership	Global Fee	Discounted Fee	Saving	SA Rand Cost
Start-up	US$ 350	US$ 225	$125	R 1,575
Small Business	US$ 475	US$ 300	$175	R 2,100
Entry Level	US$ 785	US$ 500	$285	R 3,500
Board Member	US$2,350	US$1,500	$850	R10,500
Regional Sponsorships	Negotiable

Additional option:

Level 3
Advantage
US$1,650

US$1,000

$650

R7,000

(This option gives provides companies with 3 years of Entry Level membership at a heavily discounted rate. It needs to be paid in advance).

“As ATM markets tend to be much smaller in the developing world, the companies themselves are smaller, or are local agents or distributors for the multi-nationals,” explained Brian.” They therefore don't have the infrastructure or ready access to finance that is common-place in Europe, USA, etc. We are a capital intensive business, after all. These new rates make the offering attractively more affordable for such companies in these markets.”

Enquiries to Brian at brian@atmia.com.

African Banking Conference Held at Vic Falls

ATMIA held its 4th annual ATM and banking conference near the majestic Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia from 18-20 April, attracting banks from Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi and Uganda. Keynote speaker, John Hardy, CEO of one of the world's biggest transaction processing networks, LINK Interchange Network in the UK, spoke of governance of payments systems and the need to be socially responsible, optimising ways of bringing financial services to different income groups, including people in low income brackets. The bright future of cell phone banking in Africa as a complementary channel to the ATM was highlighted by speakers from both South Africa and Britain. ATMIA presented a well-attended training workshop on ATM Risk Management and Corporate Governance.

ATMIA Africa’s fifth annual event takes place in Cape Town in early March 2008, possibly in partnership with the Smart Card Society of Southern Africa.