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At a select number of the bank's North American ATMs, dogs in tow get to enjoy a special treat... with no PIN required.
Recognizing that taking a pet-friendly approach to customer relations can open up a wealth of potential clients, Canada’s TD Bank came up with a rather novel idea a couple of years back, and it’s been growing in both popularity and locations ever since.
You see, similar to how restaurants communicate their eagerness to entice pet lovers by leaving out a simple bowl of water for passing pooches or even tailoring menu content for hungry canines, this bank has introduced a fun, interactive gadget that impresses both visiting clients as well as their fur-kids.
Have you guessed what it is? Yes, sitting directly alongside a select number of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) is a second machine that looks quite similar in terms of size, shape, and color to the real thing. However, it’s considerably lower to the ground, doesn’t require a PIN, and instead of cash, it dispenses treats.
And with this particular ATM (AKA an Automatic Treat Machine) you get to forego those pesky bank fees. You also don’t have to train your dog on how to press the right buttons to score a treat. Yes, this dispenser is pretty much motion-activated, meaning all your pooch has to do is step up onto the flat, paw-embossed pad and voila, their reward is instantly dispensed.
Now, the most recent addition to the bank’s collection of 14 ATM treat dispensers has just been installed at a branch in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to that, they were made available at select locations in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Toronto. And with a US-based footprint that runs up the east coast from Florida to Maine, the bank expects to expand even further on this pet-centric offering over the next couple of years.
According to Nick Ramos, the bank’s Senior Manager, Corporate and Public Affairs, the intent was “To show some love to the four-legged friends who often accompany clients on their banking excursions.” And as a first-of-its-kind pilot, they wanted to get it right. That’s why they chose to roll out this auto-treat dispenser slowly, so they could gauge customer feedback and tweak any areas for improvement. So far, he states that customers love it. “We saw it all over social media.”
What I love is that they don’t scrimp on the goodies dispensed. When triggered, the motion-activated dispenser releases three to four little biscuits into a small metal bowl for your pooch to gobble. Nothing shooting out across the sidewalk with your pet trying to catch them as you do your banking. Details count and keeping it easy is what its all about.
