While exterior ATMs and night depositories offer convenience and easy access, security should be a primary concern to keep customers safe. Incidents of crime can have an impact from a brand reputation and liability perspective with lasting repercussions. Since there are no federal laws and regulations in only 13 states, the onus is upon credit unions to establish processes that deter crime as much as possible.

Parameters for the policy should include systematic inspections of the functionality of exterior lighting and the implementation of a regular maintenance schedule of fixtures surrounding ATM and night depositories. It is also important to record and document the various inspections and maintenance performed so these efforts can be easily referenced, reviewed and evaluated. This information can be critical for any potential legal action to substantiate that the institution took every reasonable measure to create a safe business environment for customers.

This policy should also factor in crime statistics in and around the neighborhood. If violent crime is a regular occurrence additional safety measures should be ­carefully considered. In some instances, a crime might have already occurred on a property and reported to law enforcement but not the credit union which can have an impact on safety procedures. Thorough due diligence on the credit union's part regarding current crime levels can reveal where potential threats lie.