With the rise in mobile capture, some may believe that deposit automation at the ATM is an expensive and unnecessary investment. However, as the Branch Transformation movement evolves, along with the need to reduce operating costs, the business case for adding deposit automation has strengthened. A recent consumer survey compared consumer deposit preferences and found that five years ago 70% of consumers preferred to make a deposit with a teller. In 2014 that number dropped to 35%. These figures speak volumes about how rapidly changes in consumer behavior can occur. The key is to leverage technology to capitalize on ever changing consumer preferences.

One of the issues we discuss regularly with clients and prospective clients is what hours of coverage they truly need. We try to help our clients better understand if they are overpaying for support that really isn't necessary or are they indeed paying a fair price to have ATMs up close to all the time. There are a couple key factors I think are important when trying to make this business decision. Hopefully these factors will bring some clarity to your ATM service hours and what it costs you.

While our image for this article might make you chuckle, the question is a serious question that needs to be answered. We have written this article because it’s a common question that many of our current customers ask. I can say that each manufacturer has its own philosophy, and ultimately, quantity and total revenue of the deal can change the pricing dramatically depending on each individual situation. But we wanted to address several of the components that drive costs in these type of situations.

There is no denying the fact that NCR has made a name for itself by delivering video ATMs to drive-thru locations across the country. Founded on technology developed by Coastal FCU and uGenius, NCR has taken video teller to the next level. With installations at over 100 financial institutions, there is obvious success with this solution. But the ultimate question for you is, “Does this make sense for my institution and is there something better out there?” Our answer is, “Maybe.”

Ways to Grow Your Business Without Big Branches While the overall economy is still in recovery mode, most financial institutions have been able to pivot from survival mode back into growth mode. A good number of institutions have merged to handle increased regulatory burden, or have survived the storm and are now looking back towards growing their business. So what strategies can a community institution deploy to help their business grow without having to build 2M branches?

I recently had lunch at one of my favorite lunch spots, Panera Bread, and this particular location was a pilot for placing orders via the new self service touchscreen kiosks. I noted a long line for the traditional cashiers and no line at the kiosk. I was sold on using the new system. After just a few moments, and one mistake or two, I had my order in and was sitting at a table with the electronic table finder. I understand that not everyone enjoys this particular implementation, but I was impressed by the ease of use and engaging design. Whenever I go back to that Panera location, I use the kiosks if an associate is not immediately available to take my order.