I’ve still got a kick in my step from marching in our Billion Dollar Savings Parade yesterday, to the beat of the Mummers Band.  It was a crystal clear day and the sun was shining brightly over Love Park in Center City Philadelphia, the perfect setting for the celebration of a milestone in our company’s history-- the one billionth transaction using our surcharge-free PNC Bank ATMs.  Throughout the years we’ve collectively saved our customers more than $1.3 billion in potential ATM surcharge fees, and that’s something we simply just had to celebrate.  

So PNC Regional President, Bill Mills and I were joined by loyal Wawa customers and associates, our mascot Wally Goose, mascots from regional favorites including Tastykake, Herrs and local Minor League Baseball teams, and special guest Ben Franklin, to celebrate savings in our own special way! 

Over 100 people dedicated to savings came out and together we all marched towards our Wawa store at 17th and Arch Street in Philadelphia, where our parade concluded with Ben Franklin, Philadelphia’s very own symbol of savings and frugality, reading a Wawa declaration asserting everyone’s inalienable right to surcharge-free banking.  Ben then made the ceremonial one billionth surcharge-free ATM transaction and received a golden receipt marking the special transaction.

This milestone served as a symbol of our commitment to value and to the importance of making choices guided by strong values.  We began our relationship with PNC in the mid-80’s and in1996 we installed ATM’s in all Wawa stores. Since that time, we have never imposed an upfront surcharge.  Today, our Surcharge-Free ATM’s have saved customers more than $1.3 billion and this is a solid part of our brand. In fact, we have three times the traffic to ATMs in our stores than all other banks in the region have to their ATMs. 

Our ATMs have truly become a source of convenience and savings that our customers can’t live without and keeping these ATM’s surcharge-free has become part of our commitment to providing customers with the highest level of value and convenience possible.

Even though the parade is over the celebration is continuing in all 572 of our stores in five-states – with an instant win ATM promotion.  Right now, Wawa customers using any PNC Bank ATM in our Wawa stores will have a chance to win a Wawa beverage instant win golden coupon for a free 16-oz Wawa iced tea or fruit drink with each transaction. 50,000 golden coupons will be dispensed randomly during the next week.  So stop into a Wawa and get your money for nothin’ and your tea for free!

Till’ next time…

ATM Billionth_Phila Inq_041310_2pg.pdf (678.73 kb)