Last updated 28 March 2001

If you have read my comments on the quality of information available on the various ATM manufacturers, you'll understand my frustration when this largely continued during the research for Internet-based data on equipment available from various manufacturers for Teller hardware. This research has covered data sourced using search and retrieval from a variety of crawlers and seach engines with many keyword sets, and from personal knowledge and subsequent research on manufacturers sites. I have probably missed some; please let me know in the case or errors or omissions.

Teller hardware grew up from the proprietary systems of the seventies and eighties, such as the venerable NCR 2262 and the IBM 3600/4700 series machines. As the intelligence was replaced by general purpose PC's, and proprietary communications replaced by industry standard LAN topologies, there still remained a need for specialised peripherals and hardware to fulfil the unique needs of the financial branch environment.

These peripherals include specialised printers (for passbooks, etc.), ergonomically designed and small-footprint screens and keyboards with a bias towards programmable keys and numeric data entry, PIN pad's and magnetic stripe card readers, and the more exotic peripherals such as TAU's (Teller Assist Units).

Once again this section is presented by manufacturer, in no special order of preference.

 IBM

Once again, curiously, you have to really dig to discover IBM's (quite extensive) line from its site. The only valid data is in the IBM UK and Europe sites.

There is a product line overview at the IBM Europe web site (also mirrored at the UK site) covering the 4707E1 and 6527 9" displays, the 4722 document printer and the 4772 Universal financial printer, the 4712 and 4770 transaction printers, the 4777 mag stripe reader and the 4778 magstripe reader/PIN pad. The latter devices are serial or mouse port attachable.

Not in the line overview (?) is the 9068 passbook printer and the 'flat' teller screen and integrated keyboard with mag stripe and smart card reader. There's no information on this but there is a picture here so you may be able to persuade your IBM representative that it exists.

The UK site documents the Charlotte 'customised terminal' option, which I've seen at the BAI. This involves building complete teller workstations to specification. Interestingly you can only find it, world wide, on the web here in the UK.

Finally, there's a (US - at last) mention of OEM TFT displays for tellers - not mentioned anywhere else - the 9052 V01, S01, X01 and A03. take a look.

 Mag-tek Incorporated

Magtek manufacture card readers, check/cheque readers, PIN products and desktop card encoders that can be interfaced to teller and branch automation systems. They have a presence in the US and the UK, and a web site with product descriptions at www.magtek.com

 NCI

Network Controls International, Inc (a subsidiary of IFS), manufacture a very useful range of hardware products (they also do software, covered separately). As an example, they can supply 3270/4700 emulator equipment, and they distribute other manufacturers printers, swipe readers etc.

The website may be found at www.nci-inc.com

 NCR

NCR have a strange mix of teller product. As one of the first and most innovative producer of specialised teller systems, I expected them to have more offerings - however they still have some of the most innovative solutions available. As well as the standard, to-be-expected printer solutions such as the 5021 Journal/validation printer and the 5223 Passbook/General purpose printer, they also have a very credible TAU offering, the 'workstation currency dispenser' the 5175, that shares many common components with the ATM product line. You can also find various 9-pin, RS-232, 40 column-ish printers that are pitched at certain financial applications, such as the 7141 and the 7162.

Worthy of some study for potential innovative branch application is the 7731 personal image processor - an entry level imaging system that could have many applications in the branch of the future.

 SNI (Siemens Nixdorf)

SNI are strong on printers - providing 4722 compatibility among others in a box made like a tank, theHPR4905. Obviously PC's and servers in the line up of products (I'm deliberately avoiding those, thank you), but apart from printers that's about it for teller peripherals. See also the HPR4901 printer

 Unisys

As far as I can establish from the Web presence, Unisys these days concentrate mainly on Teller system software, and the only specialised hardware I can locate is a MICR printer as part of the Unisys Open Print Architecture.

 Miscellaneous and oddities

Craden make passbook printers - the DP6 and DP7 - check them out here. The Web search engines throw up the Axiohm 5223 and 5021 printers but I can't locate a web site. (Axiohm originated from Schlumberger in 1998 and bought the Ithica printer division from AT&T) I've now tracked down Olivetti who were busy becoming Olsy while I was researching this page. They make a variery of printers such as the PR2 and PR50, more details here. At the same location they're showing a customised workstation, but it's very light on details.
Can you fill in any gaps? Are there any manufacturers that I've missed? Please, please tell me!