Whether you are representing a credit union, a bank or some other financial institution security is a major concern in this day and age. It is challenging to keep up with the constantly changing technological advancements available on the market. Obsolescence is an ongoing challenge to overcome.

Despite comprehensive background checks, one cannot deny the perversity of human nature. And thus we have the advent of video surveillance. In God we may trust, but others we need to see proof from. The question remains, what kind of video surveillance best serves the needs of this particular clientele?

Financial institutions are in a customer-service oriented field. This in turns means the technology should be state-of-the-art and cutting edge.

Let us look at what specific benefits come as a result of video surveillance:

* Prevention of Bank Robberies – This is where the majority of our money is stored so this will always be an attractive and appealing target to thieves. However, this will be an effective deterrent to many.
* Crime Investigation – In an age when just about any sort of technology imaginable is on the Internet for sale, fraud is on the increase. Video surveillance aid in the successful apprehension of criminals by providing imagery of the perpetrators.
* Prevention of Check Fraud – IP surveillance systems are now available with video analytics like facial recognition software to record transactions. With this software, analysis of transaction data and image capture offenders and protect clients’ account information
* Avoidance of Fraudulent ATM Withdrawals – Security cameras record all ATM transactions and thereby decrease the amount of unauthorized ATM withdrawals. It is also important for customers to regularly check their accounts to verify accuracy and when suspicious charges appear, contact their financial institution immediately.
* Integration between Alarm Systems and Surveillance – This is one stop technology at its best. Security cameras and alarm systems can be combined into one network for convenient accessibility.
* Intelligent Functionality – A.I Technology with technology such as motion sensing, facial recognition and behavioral recognition can be used to identify suspicious behavior or unusual activity in banking areas.

Most importantly, all of the above equate to increased customer confidence. On the negative side of video surveillance in banks is over-reliance on video surveillance, possibility of criminal tampering and the lack of privacy. In the case of tampering, other security measures and precautions should be in place to deter compromise in the surveillance footage due to a lapse in coverage.