With its headquarter in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the ATH® was inaugurated
in May 1983 and since then has evidenced a solid growth. Currently it is a
service offered by EVERTEC, in Puerto Rico, the Dominican
Republic
and Costa Rica, and working to expand to other countries. The ATH® Network
provides significant benefits to those customers that use its ATH® card
for purchases as well a to the card issuing institutions that are linked to
the Network.
| May 1983 |
The first automatic teller machine
was installed for customer use at Cupey Center Branch of Banco Popular. |
| October 1983 |
The marketing campaign for television
was launched to advertise the ATH® service. ATMs were already installed
at the Metropolitan Area of San Juan, Ponce, Mayagüez, and Fajardo. |
| December 1983 |
The first off-premises ATM was
installed at the facilities of Pueblo Supermarket at De Diego Avenue (tourist
zone). This service was branded "the Bank away from the Bank".
This marked a shift in the strategy by giving priority to the installation
of ATMs at business outlets rather that at branch offices. Customers may
now make their transactions without having to visit a bank's branch. |
| March 1984 |
Known today as FirstBank, the
First Federal Savings Bank executed its first interchange transaction at
an ATM they had installed at their branch at Plaza Las Americas. |
| July 1984 |
An agreement was signed between
Banco Popular and American Express for the interchange of electronic transaction. |
| August 1986 |
Visa cards started to be accepted
at the ATH® Network. |
| October 1986 |
The ATH® service becomes available
at U. S. Virgin Islands |
| June 1987 |
Interchange of transactions began
with national and international networks such as NYCE, Plus and Honor (now
Star). |
| November 1988 |
An agreement for reciprocal interchange
was signed between ATH® Network and PREESTO. |
| May 1989 |
The one million ATM monthly transactions
mark was attained in the ATH Network. |
| February 1990 |
ATH® Network begins to accept
Cirrus cards. |
April 1992
|
Banco Popular launched the service
for the acceptance of the ATH® card for the payment of goods and services
at Banco Popular's merchants by means of a point-of-sale terminal ("POS").
This product was branded "Express Payment". |
|
December 1994
|
Banco Popular's POSs begin to
accept ATH® participants' cards. |
| December 1995 |
The one million POS monthly transactions
mark was attained in the ATH® Network. |
| February 1996 |
The POS driving and management
service was made available to ATH® Network participants. |
| March 1996 |
The ATH® Network was inaugurated
at the Dominican Republic. |
| June1997 |
The ATH® Network was inaugurated
at the Republic of Costa Rica. |
| December 1997 |
The one million ATM monthly transactions
mark was attained in the Dominican Republic ATH® Network. |
| June 1999 |
Popular Inc. acquired
GM Group, Inc. |
| 2000 |
Popular Inc. acquired
CreST, S.A. in Costa Rica |
| March 2000 |
ATH operations are transferred
to GM Group, Inc. |
| April 2004 |
ATH operations are transferred to EVERTEC,
Inc. |