In the banking industry, hard times and holidays equal holdups, but one area financial institution has designed itself around cutting-edge robbery prevention.
According to Vice President Butch Holley, the Augusta Metro Federal Credit Union branch is the only "bank" in 150 square miles with such a forward-thinking layout.The unorthodox concept feels more like a Starbucks than a bank — right down to the smell. “If I could make the smell of apple pie appear when you walk in the front door, I would,” Holley says. “Since I can’t, the coffee pot is the next best thing.”
While the amenities are obvious and unconventional for a financial institution, they’re designed around security. Take the pod system, which places the member side by side with the teller.
Though such a setup might appear more exposed and vulnerable, the pod is actually built around a cash-dispensing unit, which is, in effect, its own ATM. In other words, a vault.
Each pod also has a security camera, a signature pad and an ID scanner, which makes it very easy to make sure the customer actually belongs to the account he’s trying to access.
The most impressive piece of technology, however, is the biometric hand scanner, which allows entry into the safety deposit box vault.“It’s a little James Bondish,” Holley admits, “but now you don’t have to wait for a vault teller, and people love that.”
The scanner itself only takes about five minutes to program, and, from there, a customer only has to enter his code, scan his hand and he’s allowed access to the vault.
According to Vice President Butch Holley, the Augusta Metro Federal Credit Union branch is the only "bank" in 150 square miles with such a forward-thinking layout.The unorthodox concept feels more like a Starbucks than a bank — right down to the smell. “If I could make the smell of apple pie appear when you walk in the front door, I would,” Holley says. “Since I can’t, the coffee pot is the next best thing.”
While the amenities are obvious and unconventional for a financial institution, they’re designed around security. Take the pod system, which places the member side by side with the teller.
Though such a setup might appear more exposed and vulnerable, the pod is actually built around a cash-dispensing unit, which is, in effect, its own ATM. In other words, a vault.Each pod also has a security camera, a signature pad and an ID scanner, which makes it very easy to make sure the customer actually belongs to the account he’s trying to access.
The most impressive piece of technology, however, is the biometric hand scanner, which allows entry into the safety deposit box vault.“It’s a little James Bondish,” Holley admits, “but now you don’t have to wait for a vault teller, and people love that.”
The scanner itself only takes about five minutes to program, and, from there, a customer only has to enter his code, scan his hand and he’s allowed access to the vault.
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