Have you ever needed an ATM and not known where to find one? For tourists and businesspeople traveling far from home, that is an all-too-familiar predicament. But a new cell phone service from MasterCard now promises to make such situations a thing of the past. MasterCard now provides cardholders with a mobile, location-based search and directory service so they can request the location of the nearest ATM be sent to their cell phone via SMS text message.

Customers simply call 1-877-FIND-ATM, and state their coordinates to request the location of the nearest MasterCard ATM. They can then choose to have a text message sent to their cell phone detailing the location of the nearest teller. The new service, which works will all major mobile carriers in the U.S. is provided by MasterCard to cardholders free of charge (carrier text message rates may apply).

"MasterCard's new SMS option for ATM Locator provides an invaluable service to cardholders," said Jonathan Cetnarski, senior vice president, Information Products and Services at MasterCard Advisors. "People don’t always have a pen or paper handy to write the ATM locations down, so SMS becomes an intuitive and convenient way to get the information they need. Travelers can finally go paperless in confidence."