Students who have walked through the commons recently may have noticed a change near the vending machine area. That’s because the Rockford Bell Credit Union installed a new ATM in the commons on April 6^th. The ATM comes to the applause of many students who feel this new addition is overdue as Guilford is the last high school in the area to receive one.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   “I feel like this ATM should have been here a long time ago,” said Randy Lundeen, senior. “Every other school has had one for a long time, so I’m glad we finally received one.”

Even though the ATM comes from the Rockford Bell Credit Union, it is available to all students and staff at Guilford. To operate the machine students must insert a credit or debit card from one of the accepted providers, and then withdraw whatever amount they please. Members can withdraw from the ATM for free, but for others there is currently a $2.50 transaction fee for all withdraws.

“I think it’s really convenient because I don’t have to go to the bank to take out money, I can just do it at school,” said Mason Freund, junior. “I like the ability to always have cash on me because most things don’t take cards.”

Although the ATM is widely considered a convenience, it does come with a fair amount of criticism. All non-members are charged a $2.50 transaction fee for withdrawals, which could be the same price as or even more than what students may spend it on. The ATM’s use may also be limited to only older students as some are too young to have a bank account.

“I don’t think there are enough people with credit or debit cards so it seems like there’s no real point of having it,” said Melita Inthabandith, freshman. “I also think it charges way too much for most people to use it.