Fagatogo Representative Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr has sent another request to the CEO of the Territorial Bank of American Samoa to install an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in downtown Fagatogo.
It’s an issue that Malaeoletalu has raised with TBAS officials at House hearings and also with former CEO David Buehler. In his July 17 letter to current TBAS CEO and President Owen Peery, the Faipule said, “The absence of an ATM in town is unjust and burdensome for visitors, the business community, consumers, government employees and especially the residents of Fagatogo.”
He pointed out that most vendors at the Fagatogo marketplace and all public transportation services exclusively accept cash. In addition, passengers of cruise ships and all types of vessels are forced to seek transportation or walk to the nearest ATMs in Pago Pago and Utulei because there’s no ATM in Fagatogo.
Rep. Malaeoletalu wrote, “I pray that this urgent request will be given due consideration.”
Fagatogo has been without ATMs since the closure of the ANZ Branch in the village in September of 2022.
