More security and a better feeling.
The benefits to Wells Fargo customers are greater convenience and increased confidence in their ATM deposits. “With the envelope-free ATM, we are able to give customers instant access to their cash deposits and a later cutoff time for their check deposits, while the check images on the ATM screen and the receipt provide additional assurance that the bank has received their deposit,” says Jonathan Velline, Senior Vice President and head of Wells Fargo’s ATM Banking division. “Customers simply insert their checks or bills in one stack into the ATM, and the system does the rest – it scans the front and back of each check or bill, reads and shows the amount, does the math and presents the customer with a summary of their deposit.”

Customers can request a receipt with a tiny picture of the scanned check or a traditional receipt listing each amount, as well as an itemized listing by denomination of bills deposited. Authenticated bills are immediately credited to customers’ accounts. Savings on the cost of processing ATM envelopes helps fund the improvements in customer service.

Bundled deposits preferred.
Wells Fargo conducted a six-month pilot of 60 envelope-free ATMs from three vendors, evaluating the systems according to reliability, performance and acceptance by customers and employees alike. “In the end, the bank’s customers told Wells Fargo that they preferred the bulk check accepter, which only Wincor could provide,” says Bill Raymond, Account Executive for Wells Fargo at Wincor Nixdorf. “Our machine provides a single input slot for checks or banknotes; rival systems have separate inserts for each. And while ours takes many checks in a bundle, the others take only one check at a time.”

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash family of envelope-free ATMs featuring the Cash and Check Deposit Module (CCDM) is designed to accept up to 50 checks or banknotes in a single transaction.

Customized Application and Interface
Wells Fargo paid particular attention to developing a customized envelope-free ATM interface as part of the bank’s Web-enabled ATM application. The application combines Wells Fargo proprietary software and Wincor’s Pro Topas on a Windows-based TCP/IP ATM. “Wells Fargo was one of the first banks in the U.S. to Web-enable its complete network of ATMs,” says Raymond. “The bank has focused significant attention on designing customer-friendly interfaces. That attention to detail is also reflected in ATM screens that Wells Fargo developed to guide its customers through the envelope-free deposit transaction.”

Wincor Nixdorf is not only delivering the envelope-free ATMs but also providing maintenance support on the ground. Since October 2005, the company has had its own team of local technicians maintaining an installed base of over 1,200 ATMs at Wells Fargo. Wincor Nixdorf has invested heavily to grow the service organization and provide the tools necessary to deliver world-class service, and remains committed to building an organization that will cover the entire U.S. and establish Wincor Nixdorf as a leader in service quality.

“ATMs continue to be a critical service channel, with customers performing as many transactions at these machines as they do with our tellers,” says Velline. “We recognize the need to continually invest in our ATM network and to provide our customers with the best level of service we can.”