EXHIBIT 99.1

Cardtronics Announces First Quarter 2012 Results

HOUSTON, April 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardtronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CATM) (the "Company"), the world's largest retail ATM owner, today announced its financial and operational results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Key financial and operational statistics in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the first quarter of 2011 include:

• Consolidated revenues of $191.0 million, up by 38%, comprised of:

• 18% organic growth, driven by U.S. same-store withdrawal transaction growth of 11% in the quarter; and

• 20% growth from acquisitions completed during 2011.

• Adjusted Net Income per diluted share of $0.38, up by 41% from $0.27.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $44.5 million, up by 33% from $33.5 million.
• GAAP net income of $9.8 million or $0.22 per diluted share, up from $6.5 million or $0.15 per diluted share. The current quarter includes the effect of $1.1 million in acquisition-related costs.

"We had a very strong quarter on the top-line, with organic growth driven by record same-store transaction growth in our U.S. operations," commented Steve Rathgaber, chief executive officer. "In comparison with last year, we believe that transaction volumes were benefited by an extra day in the quarter in this leap year, by very mild winter weather over most of the country, and by a significant increase in the number of tax refunds being made on prepaid cards and subsequent ATM cash withdrawals from those cards. Additionally, we had a very productive quarter on the new relationships front, executing several new long-term contracts with premier retailers in multiple geographies. With these recent contract wins, we continue to demonstrate to merchant retailers our industry-leading execution capabilities and our ability to drive foot traffic to their locations."

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• The expansion of the Company's relationship with 7-Eleven into Canada, beginning with 472 ATMs and potential for additional growth as its exclusive ATM service provider to all 7-Eleven convenience stores in Canada.
• Commencement of the installation of ATMs in 970 Valero stores under a previously-announced contract. At the end of April 2012, approximately 350 ATMs had been installed, and we expect the remaining installations to be substantially complete by end of the second quarter of 2012.
• The execution of a contract with a major petroleum and convenience store operator in the United Kingdom covering ATMs in approximately 1,000 gasoline retailing locations. As of the end of April, approximately 160 ATMs have been installed, and we expect to have approximately 600 installed by the end of the year.
• In addition to the growth with Valero and in the United Kingdom mentioned above, the addition of 650 new Company-owned ATM locations in the United States and United Kingdom in the first quarter.
• The addition of bank branding in approximately 400 locations during the quarter.
• The strongest quarterly United States same-store withdrawal transaction growth results the Company has reported in its operating history.
• The execution of additional interest rate swap agreements to expand the Company's interest rate hedging program through 2018, significantly reducing its long-term exposure to floating interest rates on the cash used in its ATMs. Further details on the changes in the Company's interest rate hedging program in the United States are included in a schedule shown later in this release.

Effects of foreign currency exchange rate movements had an insignificant impact on reported revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income per diluted share during the quarter.

Please refer to the "Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Information" contained later in this release for definitions of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share and Free Cash Flow. For additional financial information, including reconciliations to comparable GAAP measures, please refer to the supplemental schedules of selected financial information at the end of this release.

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

For the first quarter of 2012, consolidated revenues totaled $191.0 million, representing a 38% increase from the $138.0 million in consolidated revenues generated during the first quarter of 2011. Of the year-over-year increase, 20% was driven by businesses acquired during the second half of 2011, including EDC, Access to Money, Mr. Cash, and LocatorSearch. Of the remaining 18% organic revenue increase, 12% was attributable to a combination of the following: (1) increased transactions per ATM in the Company's United States and United Kingdom operations; (2) unit growth expansion; (3) increased revenues from managed services agreements; (4) increased bank branding revenues from financial institution partners; and (5) growth in Allpoint, America's largest surcharge-free network. Finally, 6% of the year-over-year increase in consolidated revenues was attributable to higher equipment sales, driven by increased demand as a result of new requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2012 totaled $44.5 million, compared to $33.5 million during the first quarter of 2011, and Adjusted Net Income totaled $16.8 million ($0.38 per diluted share) compared to $11.6 million ($0.27 per diluted share) during the first quarter of 2011. The increases in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income per diluted share were positively affected by the incremental operations of ATMs acquired during the second half of 2011, as well as the organic revenue growth. Specific costs excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are detailed in a reconciliation included at the end of this press release. 

GAAP Net Income for the first quarter of 2012 totaled $9.8 million, compared to $6.5 million during the same quarter in 2011. The increase in GAAP Net Income for the first quarter of 2012 was positively affected by the factors identified in the discussion of the increase in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income above, partly offset by $1.1 million in acquisition-related costs, higher intangible asset amortization associated with the Company's recent acquisitions, and higher stock-based compensation.

Update of Full-Year 2012 Guidance

The Company is updating the financial guidance it previously issued regarding its anticipated full-year 2012 results, and now expects the following:

• Revenues of $755.0 million to $770.0 million;
• Overall gross margins of approximately 31.2% to 31.8%;
• Adjusted EBITDA of $182.5 million to $189.5 million;
• Depreciation and accretion expense of approximately $56.0 million to $58.0 million, net of noncontrolling interests;
• Cash interest expense of approximately $20.0 million to $21.0 million, net of noncontrolling interests;
• Adjusted Net Income of $1.58 to $1.64 per diluted share, based on approximately 43.9 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding; and
• Capital expenditures of approximately $70.0 million, net of noncontrolling interests.

The Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income guidance excludes the impact of $11.4 million of anticipated stock-based compensation expense and $23.3 million of expected intangible asset amortization expense, both on a pre-tax basis. Additionally, this guidance is based on average foreign currency exchange rates for the remainder of the year of $1.55 U.S. to £1.00 U.K., $13.00 Mexican pesos to $1.00 U.S., and $1.00 Canadian dollar to $1.00 U.S.

LIQUIDITY

The Company continues to maintain a very strong liquidity position, with $76.9 million in available borrowing capacity under its $250.0 million revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2012. In addition, the size of the amended credit facility can be increased to $325.0 million under certain conditions. The Company's outstanding indebtedness as of March 31, 2012 consisted of $200.0 million in senior subordinated notes due 2018, $171.0 million in borrowings under its revolving credit facility due 2016, and $4.6 million in equipment financing notes associated with its majority-owned Mexico subsidiary. 

DISCLOSURE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America ("GAAP") and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. Management believes that the presentation of these measures and the identification of unusual, non-recurring, or non-cash items enhance an investor's understanding of the underlying trends in the Company's business and provide for better comparability between periods in different years.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense as these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within the Company's industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures, and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes acquisition-related costs, certain other non-operating costs, loss on asset disposal and our obligations for the payment of income taxes, interest expense or other obligations such as capital expenditures. Adjusted Net Income represents net income computed in accordance with GAAP, before amortization expense, loss on disposal of assets, noncontrolling interests, stock-based compensation expense and certain other expense (income) and acquisition-related costs, and using an assumed 35% tax rate. Adjusted Net Income per diluted share is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by average weighted diluted shares outstanding calculated in accordance with GAAP. Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less payments for capital expenditures, including those financed through direct debt but excluding acquisitions. The measure of Free Cash Flow does not take into consideration certain other non-discretionary cash requirements such as, for example, mandatory principal payments on portions of the Company's long-term debt. 

The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities, or other income or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used herein to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are presented in tabular form at the end of this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host a conference call today, Monday, April 30, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. To access the call, please call the conference call operator at:

Dial in:                    (877) 303-9205

Alternate dial-in:      (760) 536-5226

Please call in fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time and request to be connected to the "Cardtronics First Quarter Earnings Conference Call." Additionally, a live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online through the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.cardtronics.com.

A digital replay of the conference call will be available through Monday, May 14, 2012, and can be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering 68644549 for the conference ID. A replay of the conference call will also be available online through the Company's website subsequent to the call through May 29, 2012.

ABOUT CARDTRONICS (Nasdaq:CATM)

Making ATM cash access convenient where people shop, work and live their lives, Cardtronics is at the convergence of retailers, financial institutions, prepaid card programs and the customers they share. Cardtronics owns/operates approximately 53,900 retail ATMs in U.S. and international locales. Whether Cardtronics is driving foot traffic for America's most relevant retailers, enhancing ATM brand presence for card issuers or expanding card holders' surcharge-free cash access on the local, national or global scene, Cardtronics is convenient access to cash, when and where consumers need it. Cardtronics is where cash meets commerce.

The Cardtronics logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=991

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources. The forward-looking statements contained in this release include, among other things, statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to the Company's business, financial and operational results and future economic performance, and statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• the Company's financial outlook and the financial outlook of the ATM industry;
• the Company's ability to respond to recent and future regulatory changes;
• the Company's ability to respond to potential reductions in the amount of interchange fees that it receives from global and regional debit networks for transactions conducted on its ATMs, including a recent change by a major global network that will result in lower fees earned by the Company on transactions processed over this network;
• the Company's ability to provide new ATM solutions to retailers and financial institutions;
• the Company's ATM vault cash rental needs, including potential liquidity issues with its vault cash providers;
• the continued implementation of the Company's corporate strategy;
• the Company's ability to compete successfully with new and existing competitors;
• the Company's ability to renew and strengthen its existing customer relationships and add new customers;
• the Company's ability to meet the service levels required by its service level agreements with its customers;
• the Company's ability to pursue and successfully integrate acquisitions;
• the Company's ability to successfully manage its existing international operations and to continue to expand internationally;
• the Company's ability to prevent security breaches;
• the Company's ability to manage the risks associated with its third-party service providers failing to perform their contractual obligations;
• the Company's ability to manage concentration risks with key customers, vendors and service providers;
• changes in interest rates and foreign currency rates; and
• the additional risks the Company is exposed to in its U.K. armored transport business.

Additional information regarding known material factors that could cause the Company's actual performance or results to differ from its projected results are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. You should not read forward-looking statements as a guarantee of future performance or results. They will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information.

SELECTED INCOME STATEMENT DETAIL:

Total revenues by segment:

Breakout of ATM operating revenues:

Total cost of revenues by segment:

Breakout of cost of ATM operating revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization):

Breakout of selling, general, and administrative expenses:

Depreciation and accretion expense by segment:

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DETAIL:

Long-term debt:

Share count rollforward:

SELECTED CASH FLOW DETAIL:

Selected cash flow statement amounts:

DETAIL OF CHANGES IN INTEREST RATE HEDGING PROGRAM:

The following table shows the Company's interest rate hedging program in place in the United States before and after the changes made in March 2012:

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⁽¹⁾    Includes 2,603 and 2,505 ATMs for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for which the Company only provided EFT transaction processing services. 

⁽²⁾    Amounts presented exclude the effect of depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense, which is presented separately in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

⁽³⁾    ATM operating gross profit and ATM operating gross margin are measures of profitability that are calculated based on only the revenues and expenses that relate to operating ATMs in the Company's portfolio. Revenues and expenses relating to managed services and ATM equipment sales and other ATM-related services are not included.

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⁽¹⁾    Includes 2,603 and 2,505 ATMs for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for which the Company only provided EFT transaction processing services. 

⁽²⁾    Amounts presented exclude the effect of depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense, which is presented separately in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

⁽³⁾    ATM operating gross profit and ATM operating gross margin are measures of profitability that are calculated based on only the revenues and expenses that relate to operating ATMs in the Company's portfolio. Revenues and expenses relating to managed services and ATM equipment sales and other ATM-related services are not included.

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⁽¹⁾       Includes 2,617 and 2,501 ATMs as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively for which the Company only provided EFT transaction processing services. Also includes 817 ATMs that as of December 31, 2011 were reported in the United States Merchant-owned category.

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⁽¹⁾       Primarily comprised of losses on the disposal of fixed assets that were incurred with the deinstallation of ATMs during the periods. 

⁽²⁾       Amounts exclude unrealized and realized (gains) losses related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.

⁽³⁾       Noncontrolling interests adjustment made such that Adjusted EBITDA includes only the Company's 51% ownership interest in the Adjusted EBITDA of its Mexico subsidiary.

⁽⁴⁾       Amounts exclude 49% of the expenses incurred by the Company's Mexico subsidiary as such amounts are allocable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders.

⁽⁵⁾       Acquisition-related costs include non-recurring costs incurred for professional and legal fees and certain transition and integration-related costs, related to recent acquisitions.

⁽⁶⁾       35% represents the Company's estimated long-term, cross-jurisdictional effective cash tax rate.

             __________________

⁽¹⁾Amounts exclude 49% of the expenses to be incurred by the Company's Mexico subsidiary as such amounts are allocable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders. 

⁽²⁾ 35% represents the Company's estimated long-term, cross-jurisdictional effective cash tax rate.

Cardtronics and Allpoint are registered trademarks of Cardtronics, Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.