BBVA to roll out more human-like ATMs

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria [stock BBV][/stock], more commonly known as BBVA, is rolling out a new kind of “concept” automated teller machine designed to give users a more personal banking experience. “BBVA is constantly looking for ways to strengthen relations with its customers and the project was not how to further automate the terminal, but how to humanize the machine,” commented Vicente Amores, NCR’s global director for BBVA. As opposed to the standard ATM, the concept ATM looks and functions more like a multimedia device, including Internet access to the each branch’s network. The screen also rotates 90 degrees. All transactions take place in just one slot — putting a check in or receiving a receipt out. It’s almost as realistic as Wells Fargo/Wachovia‘s envelope-free ATMs — you would never put something in an envelope just to give it to the teller, right? Twenty of the “concept” ATMs are already functional around Spain, with 200 more being installed this year. The bank said some will also roll out in the U.S. Won’t it be great to go to the ATM and have that personal, friendly experience with the same machine every time? Lord knows conversation gets boring after visiting the same human teller booth multiple times a week. What stories can a human tell that a robot can’t tell? Except for that one about how they lost their job to a human-like machine. Write to Christine Ricciardi. Follow her on Twitter @HWnewbieCR.