Recently, NCR Corp. ( NCR - Analyst Report ) announced that FirstOntario Credit Union, a financial institution, has opted for its APTRA Interactive Teller. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Canada-based FirstOntario serves through 21 operating branches and two satellite branches. FirstOntario will deploy NCR APTRA Interactive Teller within its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to provide better banking services to customers. This Interactive Teller operates through two-way video conferencing and remote transaction processing technologies.

With this technology, customers can avail branch services (cheque and cash deposit, instant statement) from remote places (where there are no bank branches) as well as after work hours through the bank’s ATMs. The automation of processes will enable the bank to re-allocate its manpower to business growth initiatives and customer services.

ATMs are no longer mere cash dispensers. Most of the ATMs today are multifunctional and have emerged as complete self-service terminals. NCR has been prudent in delivering various advanced ATMs to date. Apart from this, it has offered various products and services that can be embedded within an ATM to deliver outstanding customer experience. NCR’s APTRA service enables ATMs to perform many banking services, thus serving both customers and bankers. Given the benefits of the solution, NCR Corp. should see similar deals in the near future.

A few months back, the Bank of New Zealand deployed NCR’s Predictive Services solution, which helped the bank reduce its ATM downtime significantly. The solution helps in determining possible ATM disruptions at any location.

We remain highly positive on NCR Corp.’s broad-based exposure in the ATM space. According to a study published by Retail Banking Research, NCR has been the world's largest supplier of multi-vendor ATM middleware and applications for 25 consecutive years. We believe that NCR Corp.’s commitment to protect the integrity of the ATM channel has been inspiring banks and a host of other financial institutions to choose its services.

But NCR Corp. will continue to face stiff competition from Diebold Inc. ( DBD - Snapshot Report ) and Wincor Nixdorf in the ATM market.

Currently, NCR Corp. has a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating.