Welcome Break is Cardpoint's largest corporate customer and the contract win is believed to be the first major customer retention contract in the UK independent ATM deployer market.

The contract, which begins with immediate effect, provides the Group with a significant stream of visible earnings with a minimum estimated turnover of £8 million over five years.

Welcome Break is the UK's leading service station operator with 27 service areas covering all major motorway routes and has an annual turnover of over £500 million.

As part of the contract Cardpoint will increase merchandising and point of sale activity and has already begun the process of rebranding its ATMs orange to gain greater prominence and increase transaction numbers. Cash machine services will also be advertised on Welcome Break TV, a bespoke 'live' satellite TV station in prime locations.

Karen McKechnie, Business Development Director of Welcome Break, said: "We have been impressed with Cardpoint's level of service and attention to detail in the past and this led directly to them being awarded the tender. Their commitment to driving customer footfall and revenues is strongly in line with our own business objectives. We expect to extend our ATM offering over the next five years and look forward to working with Cardpoint to this end."

Nigel Mills, Sales Director of Cardpoint Group plc, said: "Winning the contract, with further potential to expand the estate, reinforces our position in the market as a significant provider of ATMs to national multi-site customers. The new contract evidences our ability to build long-term commercial relationships and will enable both parties to benefit from increased revenues as the portfolio of installed ATMs expands."