NCR Corp. said Thursday it has bought uGenius Technology ofSandy, Utah, a pioneer in two-way ATM software that lets consumersconduct business remotely with a live teller.

NCR had become a part-ownerof uGenius in early 2012. Atlanta-based NCR said the takeoverwill help it continue to grow its APTRA Interactive Teller businessand that it plans to begin pilots at “multiple top 10 U.S. banks”in the first half of this year, as well as increase its credit union sales of the system.

“Video banking – or, as we prefer to call it, remote assistedservice – will continue to gain momentum in the U.S. and othercountries in 2013. Remote assisted service is proving to helpfinancial institutions grow revenues while at the same time reducetheir operating and real estate costs,” said Peter Leav, NCRexecutive vice president.

The company said approximately 95% of all teller transactionscan be performed on the video teller, as well as the usual productsales and service that an in-branch teller provides.

“For instance, customers can perform secure transactions withoutusing a traditional ATM card and, like branch tellers, remotetellers can rovide customers access to cash in their accounts inamounts over the standard ATM daily cash withdrawal limits,” NCR'sstatement said.

The NCUA in 2012 ruled that video tellers count as servicefacilities when considering field of membership expansions.Gene Pranger, founder and CEO of uGenius, which had about 30clients, said then he expected the machines to become an industrystandard over time.