Nationwide is the first UK financial services institution, and only the second worldwide, to install NCR's new generation of in-branch cash and cheque deposit machines.
The Nationwide Fast Cash & Cheque machine performs all the usual ATM functions, such as dispensing cash and balance information, via a touch-operated colour screen. Customers can additionally use the kiosks to: deposit up to 30 banknotes, which are immediately credited to their account; deposit cheques, for which a receipt incorporating a scanned image of the cheque is provided; obtain a building society cheque.
Eighty per cent of the people visiting a bank or building society branch do so to carry out one or more of the above transactions, claims Nationwide. Passbook holders who register for a special PIN will also be able to use the system says the building society.
Fast Cash & Cheque is being rolled out across 80 Nationwide branches, beginning with its flagship branch at Newbury, Berkshire. The system has been developed using a Personas 70 ATM coupled with a Personas 72 Sidecar and is likened by NCR vice president Andy Morss to a "branch-in-a-box".
Robin Bailey, Nationwide's branch network director, comments: "Many of the large banks are closing branches. Our strategy is different - self-service devices such as Fast Cash & Cheque help ensure our branches remain economically viable by driving higher volumes of business through them."
Nationwide is only the second organisation in the world to install NCR's cash and cheque deposit technology. Caja Madrid, one of Spain's largest banks, installed 250 Personas 75 ATM/72 Sidecar last year.
At Nationwide the system uses a customised version of NCR's Aptra Advance software. It runs on the Windows NT platform and uses graphics created by software house i-design.