Zions Bank has begun a pilot program to make it easier for customers to get into their safe deposit boxes.
Instead of requiring two keys to open a bank box, one held by the customer and the other key used by the bank employee, customers now can access the vault alone by using a fingerprint scanning device and a personal identification number.
"Utilizing this new technology, customers will have more convenient access to their safe deposit boxes, while still having the confidence in the security of the boxes," said LeeAnne Linderman, senior vice president of branch banking for Zions.
Zions is starting the new "self-entry" service at its branch inside the Smith's Food & Drug Center at 5620 W. 4100 South in West Valley City.
"This is the first time self-entry safe deposit boxes have been used in Utah," according to Rob Brough, the bank's vice president/public relations manager.
"Our PassVault System is emerging technology that's perfectly suited for financial institutions," according to Richard Baggott, general manager of Diebold's Integrated Security Solutions Group, headquartered in Canton, Ohio. "It provides a cost savings for banks and allows their personnel to cross-sell other products and services."
Zions intends to install these self-entry boxes in new branch locations and is investigating putting them into existing branches.
Boxes in the vault at the West Valley City Smith's branch are traditional two-key boxes. Branch manager Chris Wright said locksmiths will soon begin deactivating the lock on each box that has to be opened by a bank employee. Customers have already begun using the branch's fingerprint and PIN system to access the vault.
Zions runs 141 full-service branches and 200 ATMs in Utah and Idaho. Forty-eight of the branches are located in grocery stores.
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