Branch banking

Hitachi Ltd. is introducing a system to protect people from being conned into transferring money from their bank accounts at automated teller machines.

The key to managing branches far removed from an institution’s headquarters, CUs say, is ensuring consistency for members and employees, regardless of where they’re doing business.

Customers of First Citizens Bank in Raleigh, N.C., have been unable to access their accounts online since the company upgraded its digital platform on Monday.

The U.S. migration has passed the one-year mark, but more key dates are on the horizon.

Sometime last month, scandal-plagued Wells Fargo decided to stop referring to its branches as "stores." It may have been a knee-jerk reaction to intense public scrutiny, but it may also be long overdue given retail banking's evolution.

Some analysts are suggesting Wells Fargo should start closing branches, in order to move beyond the phony-accounts scandal, make up for an expected drop in fee income from reduced cross-selling — and position itself for a digital future.

The storm claimed at least 33 lives, though credit unions appear to have not suffered much — if any — significant damage.

ATM operators have been down this road before, dealing with Mastercard's rules on EMV transactions occurring with the international Maestro debit cards as far back as 2013. But awareness and experience doesn't automatically translate to preparation.

Several southeastern CUs have already closed or are planning closures as the storm approaches.

Banks are expected to spend more on technology in the coming year, with the cash earmarked for things like upgrading mobile apps and adding self-service tech in branches.