The Co-operative bank has introduced talking ATMs that will help to service blind customers. The ATMs can be used by plugging a headset into the ATM.

Over 400 ATMs, which give customers spoken instructions, went live on 24 May.

All Visa card holders from all banks can access the service and the bank aims to deploy over 2,000 by the end of 2014.

NatWest, subsidiary of RBS, has also committed to making 80% of 4,800 cash machines speech-enabled over the next couple of years.

The Co-op declined to give a figure for the cost of the ATM upgrades, saying it was an "ongoing investment".

The Co-operative Bank has also announced it is to stop offering loans to new business customers.

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A spokesman for the bank said "We are not offering new loans to new corporate customers but are continuing to provide facilities for existing customers."

Earlier in May, credit ratings agency Moody’s downgraded the Co-operative Bank’s debt ratings and warned it could need the taxpayers’ money to save the bank.

It is currently unclear as to whether the wider Co-op group will be used to support the bank.

 

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