Mountain America Credit Union in West Jordan, Utah, the state'ssecond-largest CU, is testing Diebold Inc.'s video tellerservice to enhance relationships with customers who usedrive-through ATMs.

Mountain America members can speak directly with credit unionemployees to ask questions, find out about new services or completetransactions, the company and credit union said.

Diebold has already conducted a trial at walk-up ATMs with the$379 million Missoula Federal Credit Union in Missoula, Mont.

Pilot testing at drive-thru ATMs can further tailor technologyto the varied needs of consumers, according to Diebold and MountainAmerica.

Mychal D. Kempt, vice president, North American operations, atOhio-based Diebold, said the video service can engage customersbeyond self-service functions.

''Whether Mountain America's members have questions, need toresolve an issue or even want to respond to a marketing offer,they'll be able to speak live, via video, with a customer servicerepresentative, and complete their business on the spot, '' he said.

The video service, using Diebold's Agilis Campaign Officesoftware, can reach out to credit union members with specialpromotions.

Increasingly, credit unions are looking to video teller technology to cut costs by replacingtellers at branch locations, as well as to create a strongerconnection with members who prefer electronic options and rarelyvisit with tellers face-to-face.

The NCUA last summer approved video tellers as “service facilities” for the purposesof field of membership expansion.

Mountain America Credit Union has more than $3 billion inassets, with more than 400,000 members at 75 branches in fivestates.