Publix EFCU installs biometric kiosks

LAKELAND, Fla. - Advancements in kiosk technology are making unmanned branches a reality in the credit union industry. Publix Employees FCU here recently installed two biometric-enabled self-service kiosks from Real-Time Kiosks. The cutting-edge kiosks basically allow PEFCU to run an unmanned branch that can positively identify members; sign up new members; take cash and check deposit withdrawals; transfer funds; accept loan applications, employment applications; facilitate check re-orders, stop payments; conduct account balance and history inquiries; display rate information; and more. One kiosk was temporarily installed in PEFCU's Lakeland headquarters and the other in the Sarasota area to help establish the CU's presence on the West Coast of Florida. A major challenge for maintaining an unmanned branch is cash management. PEFCU hired Brinks to handle the cash replenishment of the Sarasota remote office. The credit union also wanted the ability to take remote control of the kiosk in order to place the kiosk in cash replenishment mode, so the only real responsibility of Brinks was to physically deal with cash replenishment, clearing deposits, and maintain the cleanliness of the kiosk exterior. To do that the PEFCU installed Cisco 1750 series routers on each end of the MCI Frame Relay network. Each of the routers has a special voice module, FXS on the Sarasota facility end and FX0 on Lakeland headquarters' end where the Real-Time Kiosks' Kiosk Network Control Program (NCP) resides. The routers allow a dial-peer configuration for automatic ring down to the Network Operations department. A special hands free phone was integrated on the member side of the kiosk in Sarasota and another analog phone was installed at the rear of the unit for Brinks to contact the credit union allowing communication regarding the kiosk's cash supply. Real-Time Kiosks is a subsidiary of Real-Time Data Management Services.