Answer:
I have seen metal detectors installed at hotels, airports and other "sensitive" areas but none at a bank; I’ll describe an experience with metal detectors at one of the airports.
I walked in and the detector beeped, so I unloaded everything in my pockets, including my watch, a silver ring and my mobile. I walked, again and it beeped again! Maybe it was my belt buckle, so I took off my belt and walked in. Again, it beeped! My shoes had a tiny metal buckle on the sides, so I removed my shoes. Now, I could walk in without any beeping! Just imagine the same situation happening with one of your customers!
There are some questions to think of if you decide to install metal detectors:
- Who will be responsible for the metal detector: one of the staff, or a trained security guard?
- What if the beeper goes off; would you perform a body search on the customer?
- Are people responsible for handling this metal detector trained to handle suspicious packages if any are found in a bag after the beeper goes off?
- Would your customers feel safer with the presence of a metal detector at the front of your branch?
- What is the message that you want to deliver to your customers and local community by installing this detector?
- Would senior citizens feel more comfortable or secure, or would they complain of more hassle and respond with "Let us take our account to another bank"?
- What if a customer refused to walk in through the detector? Would you ban him/her from walking inside the bank?
- Did you think of a public awareness campaign to educate your customers as to why you want to use such a device?
- Will this have a positive affect boosting business, or would it kill the image of a bank as a place where people want to be away from the hassle of security checks after the events of 9/11?
First published on BankersOnline.com 5/17/04
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