<p>CU Times Southwest Correspondent DENVER – A second Colorado credit union, U of C Federal Credit Union of Boulder, has ventured into ATM check scanners with plans to have at least six of the Diebold Inc. devices operating by next May. U of C Federal follows the $545 million Colorado State Employees Credit Union which has had the imaging equipment at five of its branches since 1998 and was one of the "pilot" CUs in the nation for the device called an "intelligence deposit mechanism." Roxann Soine, card service manager at the $457 million U of C Federal, said the IDM was first installed in September at one of its Boulder branches and another in November and so far the two devices installed "are gradually picking up in usage." The device is designed to provide a "comfort" level to members as they view the images of deposited checks. The IDM also lets members have the check image printed onto receipts. Diebold at its corporate headquarters in North Canton, Ohio said there are roughly 3,000 of the IDM units at banks, CUs and check cashers across the country and noted that interest in the device has been spiked in recent months by the added copying feature introduced in 1999. Cassie Metzger, senior marketing manager at Diebold, acknowledged that the market for the devices has "taken a while" since there are software expenses involved in installation. But now, she said, CUs have shown heightened interest in IDMs tracing inquiries to a Diebold demonstration at recent CUNA GAC meeting. James Smart, vice president of finance at the 73,000 member Colorado State Employees, said the IDMs operating at his CU branches work well and serve a useful purpose in getting members to "feel comfortable" about making deposits at ATMS. However, the "challenge," he said, is to sustain member interest in the devices after the initial flurry. Smart said it does cost an extra $6,000-$7,000 for IDMs at each ATM. "Sometimes we find that members after a couple of times trying out the copying feature stop doing it and they find they don't need it and so it becomes a little routine," he said. It was understood as many as four more Colorado CUs are planning to install the Diebold IDMs this year. One Diebold executive, who asked not be identified, lauded CUs for taking the initiative on this product adding "let me tell you, Colorado credit unions are a lot more astute at spotting trends than many banks which remain conservative and would not pick up" on this kind of service. [email protected]</p>