Diebold Brings Functionality to ATMs
Banking customers in Costa Rica will soon be able to access home-banking site functionality at the automated teller machine (ATM).

Diebold Incorporated's first installation of Agilis Power(R) Extensions in the region allows customers at BAC Credomatic to use the ATM to view account statements; obtain account balances; and make credit card, loan and other bill payments that post in real-time - all with or without the use of a card.

David McCrea, head of electronic distribution channels at BAC Credomatic Network, said he recognized the flexibility of Diebold's Agilis(R) software as an opportunity to add value to the bank's electronic channel.

"Fifteen to 20 percent of transactions conducted by customers at BAC Credomatic branches are card and bill payments," McCrea said. "Our goal is to drive those traditional transactions to the electronic channels."

Initially, Credomatic will introduce the e-banking channel technology on 30 to 40 in-branch ATMs in Costa Rica, with plans to expand to select locations in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua over the next six to eight months.

"We're looking for the highest functionality and service for our customers," McCrea said. "Diebold helped us develop the best technology. No other solution came close to what Diebold offers us."

Diebold's Agilis ATM software is a flexible, open, cross-vendor platform that allows multiple vendors' terminals and their respective technologies to co-exist. Software engineers use the Agilis Power toolkit to develop custom applications.

Agilis Power Extensions assists financial institutions in adding new features and functions to the ATM while maintaining their existing network environment. It can also be utilized to achieve channel efficiencies and add value for the ATM customer. Agilis Power Extensions provides a "one-stop shop" environment, which allows customers to conduct a variety of transactions, even if they do not have their bank card with them.

In addition to pioneering Web-interaction transactions, BAC  Credomatic was the first network in Latin America to have EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) operational and certified in its network.

"We're trying to be technology leaders in our region, and Agilis has given us the platform to do that," McCrea said.

With the assistance of Diebold's Professional Services organization and GBM Costa Rica, Diebold's distributor for Central America and several Caribbean countries, BAC Credomatic was able to develop and integrate the new ATM transaction set to the Web and implement a pilot in November 2005 in Costa Rica.

This was accomplished without compromising the existing investment in traditional transactions. The integration lowers implementation costs for new transactions not supported in the traditional financial core system, allows Credomatic to allocate more available resources for new services and enhances the customer experience within the bank's network.

Diebold's Professional Services specializes in developing customized, integrated self- service systems tailored to a financial institution's specific needs. It also helps with the initial analysis and design, development, implementation, training, testing and support phases.

Chuck Ducey, Diebold's senior vice president of global development and services, said Agilis provides the flexibility to customize applications to meet customers' needs.

"This project demonstrates the versatility of Agilis, and how Diebold works with customers to create advanced functionalities that help them meet their business needs," Ducey said. "It also shows Diebold's ability to develop the best technology for our customers."

About BAC Credomatic
Established in 1971 in Nicaragua, BAC Credomatic is a network of service providers of integrated banking, credit-card issuing and merchant-acquiring services. Grupo BAC Credomatic's network extends across Central America and Mexico, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica Nicaragua and Panama.