Crédit Agricole subsidiary le Crédit Lyonnais is to replace its network of deposit-enabled ATMs with new machines from Diebold featuring banknote recycling and coin deposit capabilities in a replacement cycle beginning with pilot installations during the summer.

"We were among the first in France to offer our shopkeeper and artisan customers automated banknote and coin deposit terminals, installed in dedicated areas," said Luc Julien, head of the ATM and fiduciary department at the bank. "Diebold's Opteva 328 recycling capability leads to further thoughts on future transition to full recycling."

In addition to crediting users' bank accounts in real time, deposit automation will reduce time spent on handling cash by bank employees, enabling staff to offer value-added products to customers. With its immediate recycling of selected banknotes, the Opteva 328 delivers efficiency and security in branches, while decreasing the total cost of ownership by reducing cash handling and cash management costs.

The Opteva 324 enables a coin deposit option for merchants and consumers featuring a receipt itemising totals, quantity and coin value. Bulk coin deposit alongside bulk cash and cheque deposit functionality rounds out the self-service features offered to consumers.

Following a first pilot installation this summer, the Opteva 328 and 324 ATMs will be deployed at some 90 sites across France beginning in October 2012.