Albany

SEFCU is putting its automated teller machines in nearly 30 local CVS Pharmacy stores in a move that will dramatically increase the places were customers of the Albany-based credit union can get their cash.

However at the same time, SEFCU says it will be taking its ATMs out of local Bruegger's Bagels stores in what had been a long-running arrangement until now.

SEFCU CEO Michael Castellana told customers in an letter emailed to customers on Wednesday that it would be installing 28 ATM machines in area CVS stores, in part to offset the loss of the Bruegger's locations.

SEFCU, which originated as a credit union for state workers and has 47 branches across upstate and $3 billion in assets, has about eight of its ATMs in local Bruegger's stores. They are scattered around Albany County, with one at Bruegger's flagship location in Troy where the bagel chain was founded in the 1980s before going through a series of acquisitions beginning in the 1990s.

Castellana didn't say exactly why it had to take its ATMs out of Bruegger's. The franchisee who owned the chain's upstate locations previously went through a bankruptcy last year, and in the fall the assets were sold back to Bruegger's Enterprises in Dallas, Texas, the main corporate entity that operates 260 of the bagel shops nationwide.

Bruegger's was subsequently sold around the same time to Caribou Coffee and its German parent company, JAB Holdings, which owns the Keurig, Panera and Krispy Kreme brands and just bought Dr. Pepper Snapple for $18.7 billion.

"The new management company that now owns Bruegger's Bagels' stores in the Capital Region has told SEFCU to remove our ATMs from their locations and this will be completed by the end of April," Castellana said. "We know you enjoyed the convenience of having access to cash in these establishments, and it is unfortunate that we weren't given a say in the matter."

A public relations firm that handles media questions for Bruegger's did not immediately have a response to SEFCU's assertion.

The Bruegger's ATMs aren't a significant portion of SEFCU's overall ATM network, which surpasses 80 machines.

However, they were a mildly convenient way to get cash, especially in certain places like Delmar. For instance the SEFCU ATM at the Bruegger's on Delaware Avenue in Delmar was the quickest way to get cash for people who live near the Four Corners since the closest SEFCU branches are in Glenmont and Slingerlands.

That's probably why the credit union took such pains to explain the upcoming changes. As of this week, most of the ATMs still appeared to be in place.

"To ensure you have access to cash when and where you need it, we are expanding our fleet of ATMs," Castellana wrote. "For those of you who frequent the Bruegger's in Stuyvesant Plaza, you will be pleased to know that a SEFCU-branded ATM will be installed at the CVS Pharmacy right next door. We will be installing another 27 SEFCU ATMs at other area CVS' this spring."

SEFCU customers can also take out cash surcharge-free from the Allpoint network of ATMs, some of which were located in local CVS stores before the deal with SEFCU.