National City testing self-service terminals.

National City Bank is testing a system that will give customers access to a variety of transactions through automated self-service terminals.

Located at two banking centers in Columbus, Ohio, the terminals allow customers to perform banking functions that normally require the assistance of a banker, including reordering checks, printing statements, changing addresses, and viewing information on loan rates and monthly payments.

The terminals, made by AT&T Global Information Solutions, Dayton, Ohio, have touch screens for accessing functions and are available for use 24 hours a day.

National City Bank, an affiliate of $31 billion-asset National City Corp., based in Cleveland, installed the terminals as an added convenience for customers. The terminals eliminate the need to stand in line for a teller, yet still give customers access to bank services, said Gayle Conner, a bank spokeswoman.

"It's important for us to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers," said Greg Tunis, executive vice president of the bank's retail banking group. "This is a benefit to our customers, but it is also good for [the bank] because this pilot project allows us to better ascertain their needs."

The bank is in the process of getting feedback from customers as to what additional services may be needed. Based on customer response, the bank, which also operates in Kentucky and Indiana, will determine whether to place additional terminals in other locations.

It has still not been determined how long the trial will go on, said Ms. Conner.

The implementation of self-service terminals is the most recent component of National City's program to improve customer service, said Ms. Conner. The bank has been moving services into stores and offering extended hours, she said. And in the card-services area, the bank has installed a system that helps identify credit card fraud.

The latest project is the result of a collaborative effort between National City and the AT&T unit. The bank is using AT&T's model 5682 interactive self-service terminal.

Henry McLain, director for retail banking at AT&T, said the company had between 200 and 300 of the terminals installed throughout the United States at a number of institutions, including Fleet Financial Group and Bank of Hawaii.

"Banks are trying to get information to customers and drive down the cost of delivery," said Mr. McLain. The terminals help do this by automating functions that platform staff generally perform, he said.

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