Most of the new users first deploy branch capture service, with a workstation at each branch, but more and more are now moving on to image capture as individual teller stations, Southwest Corporate said.

"It's not vaporware, and it's no longer bleeding edge," said Brad Ganey, Southwest Corporate's director of item processing. "Teller capture is a very real part of our normal operations today."

Increased efficiencies particularly help credit unions with far-flung branches, such as First Financial Credit Union of Albuquerque, N.M.

The $315 million CU now transmits images from 11 branches, reducing air and ground check transportation.

"I know remote capture is saving us money on courier services," said Terri Mickelsen, the credit union's vice president of internal operations, "and it's substantial on our out-of-town offices. There is no courier service from our remote branch in Pine Hill, so we had been sending checks by Fed Ex."

Savings and efficiencies also are occurring in the back office.

"We were microfilming and endorsing items, not to mention having to bundle and log the checks to get them ready for the run," Mickelson said. "I feel like we've come a long way in a short time. I wish I had pulled the trigger long before I did."

Beck said Southwest Corporate has a team ready for those wanting to pull the trigger in 2008. She said the team has launched the service in more than 250 credit unions, including several in New Orleans just days after Hurricane Katrina.

The team also has a "testing lab" to check compatibility and integration as client credit unions go online with the remote capture service.

While the number of paper checks being processed drops, and the per-check cost of processing them consequently rises, the paper document is not going completely anytime soon.

"However, the way those checks will be processed will continue to change," Beck said. "In this case, change is good. Lots of credit unions are going to save lots of money by processing checks electronically."

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