The lobby at Lyon County State Bank’s west location is a little like stepping forward in time.
Teller pods have replaced the old teller lines, cash-dispensing equipment has replaced cash drawers, and a television set brings customers the latest in financial and world news as they take care of business in the newly remodeled lobby at 12th Avenue and Industrial Road.
“We’re putting our energies in the 12th and Industrial bank,” said bank president Tom Thompson.
The modernization of the branch, including the latest in technological advances, has made banking faster and more accurate.
“The cash dispensing equipment that’s there is three times faster than a teller has been able to handle a cash transaction,” Thompson said. “... It counts (the cash) itself three times. It’s got built-in counterfeit detectors. It’s just a quicker, smarter, faster delivery system that’s safe.”
Thompson said the new mode for doing business is more consumer-friendly than in the past.
“In the past, it wasn’t unusual on any given day seeing a customer stand on their tiptoes, stick their head in the teller cage, and turn their body to see what’s on the screen for their account,” he said.
“And having customer service reps that can take care of all their needs instead of just doing deposits. They can open the new accounts, again, handle whatever their banking needs are.”
The new teller pods make account information easy to see in a safe and secure environment, Thompson said.
A ceiling-to-floor wall now separates the drive-through window tellers from the staff in the lobby area, adding to that secure environment.
“A lot of that was due to privacy, too,” he said. “People talking through PA systems who could be heard all over the lobby.”
A faster delivery system has been implemented for the drive-through, too.
The emphasis on the west branch came shortly before LCSB curtailed lobby service on Dec. 1 at its east-side branch, 1104 E. 12th Ave.
The drive-through service remains open on the east, as do the automatic teller machine and the night deposit box.
“Even people that have their safe deposit boxes out there can still get access to them,” Thompson said.
Only the lobby has closed, and that resulted because retail business continued to shift to the north and west sides of Emporia, while dwindling on the east.
Closing the lobby on the east side and moving employees to other branches will be a better utilization of staff, while continuing to keep drive-through convenience available to customers in that area.
The east bank accounts for 8 to 10 percent of Lyon County State Bank’s volume at its four locations. In addition to the East and West 12th Avenue branches, the bank has a main office at 902 Merchant St. and another branch on the Emporia State University campus.
“I still am looking to hire other people, so we are not losing any staffing whatsoever,” Thompson said.
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
With all this new fangled technology the "pods" are probably set up to pull out a 45 and shoot at point blank range if you're wearing a mask. HA!
December 10, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I would think the new cash machines would make it less likely that they'd be robbed. I'm sure they thought of the safety of their employees. And if they were worried about the lobby hearing the drive thru speaker, they would surely have safeguards on the monitors to protect privacy.
December 10, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chiefsfan (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
December 10, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. ( permalink )
equalrights (anonymous) says...
crack- why don't you leave the girl out of it?
December 10, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mylife (anonymous) says...
Her weight has nothing to do with it crackinsack.
December 12, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )