Until recently, most banks did not regard remote deposit capture (RDC) as a useful means of replacing costly branch transactional visits with a lower cost self-service mechanism. After all, RDC customers had been mostly large businesses who rarely visited branches to make deposits. But, as client adoption migrates downmarket, RDC (and to a lesser extent, image ATMs) will have a profound effect on branch transactional volume as customers make deposits without using the branch. Few, if any, financial institu­tions launched RDC solutions with the intent of reducing branch traffic, yet that’s exactly what is happening in a minority of banks taking aggressive postures with RDC.

In fact RDC is impacting branch foot traffic in 60% of banks that offer it according to a Celent survey administered in December 2007. Among a minority, branch trans­action declines of 20% or more are evidenced, accelerating already declining branch activity. The implications for banks are profound: fewer chances to interact face-to-face with customers, and the obsolescence of the traditional branch, something few banks intended when they launched RDC.

And this is occurring even as U.S. banks build more branches and invest in branch automation technology to automate routine branch transactions. Continued branch renewal alongside simultaneous investment in self service technologies designed to keep customers out of the branch. Strategy or paradox?

The webinar presents Celent’s research findings based on a survey of 160 financial institutions in December 2007.

Click Here to Download the Presentation

Telephone Conference Presentation
On Tuesday, July 15, 2008 At 2:30 Eastern/11:30 Pacific

Presentation by
Bob Meara
Senior Analyst, Banking Group
Celent   

bmeara@celent.com

About Bob Meara:
Bob Meara is a senior analyst in Celent's banking group. Mr. Meara’s research focuses on check processing with emphasis on branch capture, remote deposit capture, and deposit automation, as well as check conversion, image exchange, and image replacement document (IRD) solutions.

Before joining Celent, Mr. Meara was the director of product marketing at Alogent. In this role, he positioned and launched a series of Check 21 payments solutions.

Prior to Alogent, Mr. Meara was a senior consultant at Stonebridge Technologies, where he developed e-marketing, CRM, and Internet branding strategies for clients. He has also held positions in marketing and brand management at Telemate.net Software, BellSouth, Hayes Corporation, and Procter & Gamble.

Mr. Meara earned a B.S. in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
 

About Celent:
Celent, LLC is a research and advisory firm dedicated to helping financial institutions formulate comprehensive business and technology strategies. Celent publishes reports identifying trends and best practices in financial services technology and conducts consulting engagements for financial institutions looking to use technology to enhance existing business processes or launch new business strategies. With a team of internationally experienced analysts, Celent is uniquely positioned to offer strategic advice and market insights on a global basis.