The machines do face some obstacles, Post explained. First, although they look a lot like ATMs, they are not ATMs and members who approach them as ATMs are liable to be confused and frustrated at first, he explained. "We found it was important to have MSRs on hand to guide the members through the first time they use the kiosks," he explained. The initial sign-on procedure walks the new user through a series of questions aimed at establishing their identity and asks the member to choose a personal identification number in order to secure future visits. Once the initial visit is complete, however, the member can use their ATM card or really any card which has their name on a plastic stripe to get future transactions underway. Since the credit union has already placed the machines in branches, it placed a premium on getting members used to them as quickly as possible. In order to get members to come and give the kiosks a try, the CU began offering a promotion where members who validated themselves through the machines became eligible to open a $1,000 six-month certificate of deposit on which the CU paid 10% on, Post explained. About 300 members so far, he said, have taken the CU up on the offer and the promotion is still young.

The $81 million Vantria FCU, headquartered in Springfield, Virginia, also has one of the machines in the lobby of its current single branch, both validating new users and awaiting its next placement.

Vantria began life as a CU in 1950, organized to serve the employees at Cameron Station Army Post, which has since been closed. Now, with a community charter which covers all of the highly populated Fairfax County, the credit union sees the machines as a way to expand its presence without having to build or fund full-service branches.