BANKING/FINANCE

Bank of America, which has the state’s largest network of full-service automated teller machines, has unveiled its first drive-up ATMs.

The bank has put its first drive-up machines in Southern California at its branches in Stanton and Mission Viejo. A drive-up branch in South San Francisco has been operating since 1985.

“It provides a certain amount of security and convenience for customers,” said J. Thomas Chapman, a bank spokesman. “A lot of people go to the bank with children or dogs, and they don’t want to leave their cars.”

Drive-up ATMs are already common in the East and Midwest, where severe weather often makes them necessary, said Lynn Clements, a bank vice president. Other major California banks also have drive-up ATMs.

Bank of America has also added walk-up ATM machines at branches in Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Laguna Hills and San Clemente and plans to put in 13 more ATMs in the county this year.

The installations are part of the bank’s effort to add 200 ATMs to its state network of 1,300 machines this year.