KINGSTON, N.Y. – Mid-Hudson Valley FCU says it has become the first credit union in the nation to launch 24/7 live teller banking – not a call center, not an ATM, nor Internet banking, but an actual, live human being available to serve members.
The unprecedented, round-the-clock teller service is being provided via the next generation of remote tellers called Personal Teller Machines, which allow human interaction via a video screen.
The new service officially launched on March 24, and will provide all banking services except for traveler’s checks, money orders and gift checks, to its members at any hour of the day, any day of the week – with the exception of only Christmas and Thanksgiving. “But we’re not done developing the process, so anything is possible,” Bill Spearman, president of Mid-Hudson Valley told The Credit Union Journal.
The 24/7 service is being offered at two of the credit unions’ branches – its main central branch in Kingston, and its newest branch in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Members can connect to a teller through a PTM, where they can have cash and coins dispensed without using a roll. The teller is based on the third floor of the main central branch, but the interface is located in the vestibule of the first-floor lobby.
Mid-Hudson Valley is exploring taking the service further, perhaps to Wal-Mart stores, since the majority of Wal-Marts are open 24/7. “It would be a great opportunity,” Spearman said. “We’ve been talking to them for more than a year about placing them in two locations.”
