The latest technology popping up in credit unionsseems almost as futuristic as Star Trek's holodeck.

Imagine having a real-time conversation with a life-size, 3Dimage of a credit union staffer who can answer questions abouteverything from car loans to savings rates. Plus, throw intheater-quality sound and eye contact. 

That might sound a bit like science fiction, but members at the$194 million MidUSA Credit Union in Middletown, Ohio, will soon beable to tap into telepresence video communication that utilizes 3Dtechnology and real-time video to enable members to engage invirtual meetings with credit union staff in different locations,said James Miles, president/CEO of the 17,900-member MidUSA.

Miles said MidUSA recently inked a deal with Naples, Fl.-basedBuffalo Pacific LLC to become the first credit union in the UnitedStates to deploy high-definition 3D OmniSuite technology. The manufacturing partner is Plano, Texas-based TelepresenceTechnologies LLC.

“The real-time 3D video communications experiences transmittedthrough the OmniSuites are of such quality that they appear to bereal life, and they give members the feeling of sitting across thedesk from our expert staff,” he explained. “With this technology,we will be able to improve the level of service that we have to ourmembers. For example, if a member walks into an office, they wantto conduct business right then, rather than scheduling anappointment for later. This technology will allow members in anybranch to immediately talk with the MidUSA expert they need.”

Miles said MidUSA is in the process of installing OmniSuites inits Kettering and Middletown Plaza branches

The credit union's decision to deploy the innovative technologywas based on increasing member demand for convenience and consumerconfidence in video technologies such as Skype and Google Hangouts,Miles added.  Although video conferences provide somebenefits, Miles said, they don't offer members the same type ofexperience and engagement provided by OmniSuite's cutting-edgetechnology, which features enhanced audio and video fidelity,compared to typical video conferencing

“The OmniSuite technology provides a member experience that ismagical and timely,” Miles said. “We think this technology isespecially exciting for our members who work with our investmentand mortgage experts. This will give MidUSA the ability to betterserve our members with the various subject matter experts we haveon staff, and remove the obstacles of time andtravel.” 

Miles said MidUSA will begin testing OmniSuite withtheir investment advisor, and also plans to use the technology tocommunicate with employees and to educate members.

“This will allow the investment adviser to have less down timethan they would if they were driving during the business daybetween our six offices to meet customers,” he said. “We can alsouse it to conduct mortgage workshops and other educational programsfor members.”

David Allen, chairman and CEO of Buffalo Pacific, said thatselecting MidUSA to launch the state-of-the-art OmniSuitetechnology was a natural because he is a member of MidUSA andfamiliar with their operation.

“MidUSA is rightfully excited to be the first credit union inthe country to deploy the OmniSuite technology as it has the powerto completely rewrite the member experience in branch by providinga virtual “presence” of MidUSA experts, which truly createsboundless relationships,” he said. “OmniSuite technology allowscredit unions to enhance relationship value and depth while betterutilizing staff and location resources. Allen, who is credited onWikipedia as a pioneer of telepresence technology, said theOmniSuite technology utilizes six registered U.S. patents, and isdesigned to create personalized relationships between a creditunion and its members.

Unlike video conferencing online from a laptop, Allen said,telepresence technology offers many benefits such as virtualfull-eye contact and life-sized images with theater qualitysound.

“Other technologies are good at showing you the person, but atelepresence allows the person to physically be in the room,” headded. “With full-eye contact, trust is developed and soon themember feels as if a routine conversation is occurring right acrossthe desk.  It's a member experience like no other andallows the credit union expert to deliver on-demand service.”