The vendors who serve up take-out, baked goods and other food at Lexington Market are happy when they’re busy. At the same time, it means they often can’t leave the premises.
Wells Fargo is hoping its new ATM represents a chance to keep everyone happy under one roof.
At a new branch the banking giant opened Tuesday inside the market, Wells Fargo installed an automatic teller machine that has features usually left to human tellers.
In essence, it could cash checks down to the penny.
“It’s the first one in the state of Maryland,” said Wells Fargo Maryland Regional President Andrew Bertamini, who didn’t shy away from calling the machine “the wave of the future.”
The machine is outfitted to spit out cash from normal withdrawals and check cashing. To do so, it’s equipped to provide currency in any denomination of bills, whether it be 20s, 10s or 1s.
The new ATM. (Photo by Stephen Babcock)
Eventually, Bertamini said it will also likely be able to produce change in the same manner. “In essence, it could cash checks down to the penny,” he said.
A large screen hovers above the ATM. Right now, Wells Fargo is using it for marketing, but it could be reconfigured to provide instructions. There’s also a window, where a human teller can provide some account services.
By providing the services within the market, that means the 70 vendors won’t have to leave when they need to do their banking. And, they won’t have to stop selling the food that keeps people coming to the historic market.
“We wanted to provide flexibility for individuals who are coming to cash checks and make deposits,” Bertamini said.
It’s also another service for all of Lexington Market’s visitors, giving them added reason to visit. The history of the market, which first started attracting food-lovers in 1782, is depicted in a mural that opened with the new branch. Offering services within the market is one way to keep it relevant for locals, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said shortly before cutting the ribbon on the new Wells Fargo branch.
“For me, Lexington Market is about giving people who live here more reasons to stay,” said Rawlings-Blake.
The crab cakes at Faidley’s don’t hurt, either.
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