Just Speak Right Into The Microphone...

Let's just suppose you have just walked into the business office of a financial institution. A voice greets you ...

"Come right on in! To your left is the new accounts area, where you're welcome to open a checking or savings account, or purchase one of our certificates. The loan officer's area is just behind that-if you'd like to make out an application to borrow.

"Or perhaps you'd like to discuss investments with our officer? That would be the seat in the area just behind that glass partition on your right.

"Our tellers are accessible straight ahead, in the back-available and happy to handle your transactions."

Normally, an office with all these services available would take up about 5,000 square feet of space.At Union Bank of California, it takes up just 50 square feet!

Union Bank's newest full service branch is a 50 square foot kiosk providing touch-screen, interactive, live video technology, ATMs, and telephones-all connected to two live customer service representatives at the Direct Banking Center. The kiosk is described as one that provides a semi-private area for banking with an open atmosphere appropriate for a shopping mall.

Calling it a "new standard for banking convenience", Union Bank is among the first to offer this retail design and technology in the western United States. Future kiosks may also include links to online banking services.

Savvy bank marketers are also looking at this type of facility for super market in-store banking, in order to offer full service to shoppers.

Copyright © 1997 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 7, No. 8, 7/97