CIBC has launched what it calls Canada’s first ski-thru automatic teller machine (ATM) atop Whistler Mountain and outside the Roundhouse Lodge.
The stand-alone red box that houses the ATM is 8.5 feet high, weighs 4,676 pounds and is located 6,069 feet above sea level. It is able to withstand severe cold and rain. CIBC said in an email to Business in Vancouver that it plans no other similar ATMs on other mountains.
CIBC's initiative is part of a five-year partnership with Whistler Blackcomb, which is now a division of Colorado’s Vail Resorts thanks to a US$1.05 billion friendly takeover that finalized on October 17.
Whistler Blackcomb supplies the power for the ATM and cabling is fed from a building atop the mountain.
Innovations at the ATM, to make it more appealing to skiers, include holders for ski poles and gloves. There are also heating lamps.
“CIBC is always looking to improve our clients' experience, whether in a banking centre or on the slopes, and our new ski-thru ATM at Whistler Blackcomb is just one of the many ways we're reaching clients at new heights,” said CIBC’s chief commercial officer, Stephen Forbes in a release.
Customers who use the ATM not only are able to withdraw cash, they may also do other things that are common at regular ATMs, such as deposit cheques.
Whistler Blackcomb has never before had a full-service banking sponsor but the initiative is arguably a win-win situation given that the ATM comes emblazoned with CIBC branding and is as much a marketing stunt for CIBC as it is a way to add value for its current clients and Whistler Blackcomb customers.
Whistler Blackcomb’s strategic alliances and partner marketing manager Morag Kerr said that the initiative is all part of providing better service to the mountain’s guests.
“[CIBC’s] commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences aligns perfectly with our goals,” Kerr said.
