Applications Of The Future?

Several institutions in the United States are experimenting with "cubby-hole" servicing of customers. Small kiosks can be built into super market locations, adjacent to ATMs, or even into the remote banking office. These "closet size" offices will contain a telephone, a chair, a personal computer, a laser printer and a deposit box. The potential customer will talk to the banking sales expert on the telephone and will see a picture of the person on a screen.

At appropriate times during the conversation, the banking employee will have the capability of putting an application on the screen and filling it out in accordance with the customer's information. At the conclusion of the "interview" for mortgage, loan, mutual funds, or insurance, the laser printer will produce two copies of what is on the screen. The customer will keep one, and sign the other, depositing it in the box provided in the kiosk. Copies of any pertinent information can also be sent to the laser printer, so that the customer can have hard copy of any information necessary.

Companies such as Litel/Palaver Systems and Personal Financial Assistant, Inc. working with AT&T and NCR hope to develop the technology to the point where the banker's picture will appear in the corner of the screen, and the text of the document will take up the rest of the screen.

Copyright © 1991 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 2, No. 10, 11/91