Diebold Nixdorf is launching a new series of automated teller machines on Tuesday meant to handle many of the tasks that take place in a bank branch, so that institutions can shrink their branch footprints and even replace branches with the machines in some cases.
Eighteen institutions, including BNL Gruppo BNP Paribas, are piloting the new ATMs, called the DN Series.
“We asked customers what they’re looking for in the future,” said Octavio Marquez, senior vice president of Diebold Nixdorf. “Digital channels are becoming more relevant. People are thinking: What is the right branch footprint. Should we have branches? Should we not have branches? For newer consumers selecting a bank, a digital presence is more relevant than a physical presence in some instances. On the other hand, we continue to see cash use growing in some markets.”
The ATM company designed the software for its DN Series machines to have the look and feel of a mobile banking app and to integrate with digital channels like mobile banking and PC banking, so a user could start a transaction, such as a loan application, in one channel and finish with the use of a QR code and a digital signature at the ATM.
“This is flexibility our software can create, now that it’s residing in smarter hardware that can help you do more transactions,” Marquez said. “Bankers around the globe are figuring out smarter ways to use these technologies.”
The ATMs have features intended to help meet the needs of small businesses that still depend on branches. A recycler has been added so a small merchant can deposit all its cash and checks at an ATM and get credit for that, and take out the money it needs to operate the next day. These recycling ATMs can replace the teller function at the branch, Marquez said.
“Many banks are seeing that these technologies will change the layout of the branch, so the branches will probably become smaller and this machine be the only cash-handling device inside the branch while a smaller staff is more focused on selling,” Marquez said. “We’re seeing a lot of people thinking: We don’t need a teller function at the bank. We’ll just install these new machines and, through the better user interface, I can eliminate a lot of manual transactions and just have people in the branch for service and information on new products.”
To help match the security controls some banks are adding to their mobile apps, Diebold has added support for fingerprint and facial recognition to its new ATMs. It also added video interaction with call center reps and other bankers to help consumers with questions and functions for which they would normally visit a branch.
A new AllConnect data engine makes patching, monitoring and updating ATMs easier. The ATMs can allow banks to maintain a point of presence in a community, even when they no longer have branches, Marquez said.
“They can perform almost every transaction that can be done in the branch, so some banks, when they close branches, will leave some of these ATMs in the neighborhood for branding and marketing,” he said.
