COMMUTERS can now top up their ez-link cards at certain POSB and DBS Bank automated teller machines (ATMs) or at AXS stations.
They can use 31 ATMs at Suntec City, Jurong Point and Rivervale Plaza, among other places, for the top-ups. The other 900 machines will be ready by the end of June.
Commuters will also be able to top up their cards at 560 AXS stations currently used to pay bills and fines.
To top up an ez-link card at an ATM, a user needs to select the CashCard/ez-link card services option, and then place his card on the dedicated card reader at the top right-hand corner of the machine.
EZ-Link executive director Nicholas Lee disclosed yesterday at the launch of the new service that the 20-cent fee for topping up the card would be waived for the first year.
He explained that EZ-Link decided to launch the service to make it more convenient for bus commuters who seldom pass through an MRT station to top up their cards.
Most commuters rely on the general ticketing machines at MRT stations for card top-ups.
Commuters can also top up their cards at 7-Eleven outlets.
Mr Lee said EZ-Link was open to working with other banks to offer the top-up scheme using their ATMs.
'This new top-up service will also encourage people to use their ez-link cards for more non-transit purchases,' he added.
In particular, the new generation ez-link cards, which have been available to users since the beginning of the year, can be used at selected retailers.
Their use will later be extended to include payments for Electronic Road Pricing charges.
More than 40,000 ez-link cards were replaced with the new generation cards during the first day of the programme.
Commuters have until Sept 30 to replace their old cards.
There are currently more than 10 million ez-link cards in circulation.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Jan 24, 2009.
