Some of the machines will operate even without power, he said. Similarly, the bank began addressing credit cards in 1997. The bank can take care of credit-card business from its end, but, Boushelle said, the merchant may not have updated. The bank is addressing that question, he said. Some customers have asked if their records could be lost.
Banks have seven years of records covering every transaction on paper or fiche.
However, customers should keep a copy of their bank statements routinely as a matter of good consumer practice, bankers advise. Jim Rose, president of First Place Financial Co. in Farmington, said his company's first concern was that the bank might be in compliance when others were not. In fact, businesses are inquiring about their own vendors and customers. There is awareness by everyone in the chain. It's logical because it's survival.