Gas-Station ATMs Are a Banking Battleground

One of the Ellis ATMs at a liquor and smoke shop in Tucson, Arizona. Such ATMs are often used by people in places where there are few bank branches.  Photos by Cassidy Araiza for The Wall Street Journal

Dozens of banks had rejected Ann Marie and Dan Ellis when they opened Bank of America Corp. checking accounts last February to fund their southern Arizona network of automated teller machines.

In April, the bank closed the accounts. Their money -- used to fund around $450,000 in weekly customer withdrawals -- was frozen. Branch managers told them to call the bank's risk and fraud department.