Success Story: Volksbank Magdeburg eG
- News
- IM TREND
- 2.6.2026
- Reading Time: {{readingTime}} min
Contents
Volksbank Magdeburg eG was one of the very first cooperative banks in Germany to pilot KEBA’s new evo series cash recycling ATMs in live operation. As part of the modernization of its self-service area, the bank deliberately chose to install three new evo series cash recyclers, placing its trust in innovation, stability, and a partnership-based collaboration.
What makes this particularly noteworthy is that the pilot deployment took place at a high-traffic self-service flagship branch where virtually all cash transactions are processed automatically. “We no longer have a traditional teller counter. Ninety-nine percent of all cash transactions are handled through our self-service machines. That is why stability is our most important criterion,” explains Carsten Lühr, Head of Operations Organization at Volksbank Magdeburg eG.
“We no longer have a traditional teller counter. 99 percent of all cash transactions are processed through our self-service machines. That is why stability is the most important criterion for us.”
Modernization with High Requirements
For years, Volksbank Magdeburg eG has consistently pursued a self-service-oriented branch concept. As part of the modernization of its self-service area, which is physically separated from the staffed advisory area, the bank deliberately reduced the number of cash recyclers from four to three machines. This significantly increased the requirements for ATM availability and reliability.
“When you have one less machine, you need to be able to rely on the technology. That is exactly why we chose KEBA again,” says Silke Forster from the Operations Organization department, who is responsible for the bank’s self-service technology.
The decision to pilot the new evo series was made deliberately despite the challenging timing around the year-end business period. “I never had any concerns. The machines from the previous series were already running very reliably, and our collaboration with KEBA has worked exceptionally well for years,” emphasizes Forster. “Together with KEBA and our service partner Ratiodata, we took the step into the pilot phase - and we were not disappointed.”
"The installation went extremely well and the support during the pilot phase was exceptionally intensive."
Successful Pilot Deployment in Live Operation
The three machines were installed at the bank’s central self-service location within its competence center - a site with no service staff on-site. Customers operate entirely independently there. For that reason, a smooth rollout was essential. “The machines were operational immediately. The installation went extremely well, and the support during the pilot phase was exceptionally intensive,” recalls Forster.
Those responsible also particularly highlight the cooperation between KEBA, service partner Ratiodata, and the bank itself.
“If anything did not work perfectly somewhere, I often received a call from the technician before we had even noticed the issue ourselves,” reports Forster.
After minor optimizations during the initial phase, the systems ran stably and reliably.
“This was one of the good pilot projects. We have experienced others where it was obvious that the systems were not yet fully mature. That was not the case here,” adds Lühr.
High Performance Even with Large Cash Volumes
In day-to-day operations, the new evo series demonstrates its capabilities, particularly when handling high deposit volumes. Volksbank Magdeburg eG serves many business customers, where speed is essential for efficient cash deposits and customer satisfaction. “We had several large deposits that were processed accurately and quickly right from the start,” reports Lühr.
The bank also views the expanded cassette capacities of the new evo series positively. “The large cassettes are extremely important for us. We want the machines to operate as independently as possible so that we have to intervene as little as possible,” explains Lühr.
“When you have one less machine, you need to be able to rely on the technology. That is exactly why we chose KEBA again.”
Intuitive Operation and High Customer Acceptance
The new evo series was quickly accepted by Volksbank Magdeburg eG’s customers. There were hardly any questions or operating issues. “Our customers found their way around immediately. There were no major questions at all regarding operation,” says Forster.
The bank particularly appreciates the intuitive user guidance and the new NFC functions. “The NFC concept in the operator front is really practical. It prevents cards from accidentally being left behind, which is a real advantage in everyday operations,” explains Forster. The new generation of machines is also visually impressive.
“The machines are intuitive, run reliably, and feature a high-quality design,” summarizes Mr. Lühr.
Partnership-Based Collaboration as a Success Factor
For Volksbank Magdeburg eG, close cooperation with KEBA and the service partners was a key success factor in addition to the technology itself.
“The collaboration was partnership-based and solution-oriented from the very beginning. That is exactly what you need during a pilot project,” emphasizes Forster. The bank is also open to future projects. “We enjoy participating in pilot projects—perhaps next time just not right before Christmas—even though everything went very well,” says Forster with a smile.
Conclusion
The successful pilot deployment of the new evo series at Volksbank Magdeburg eG demonstrates that modern cash recycling systems can operate reliably even under demanding conditions. From stable performance and high customer acceptance to partnership-based project support, the evo series has proven its practicality in daily banking operations.
For banks looking to modernize their self-service infrastructure while maintaining high availability, efficiency, and user-friendliness, Volksbank Magdeburg eG provides a compelling and courageous real-world example.
