A PeoplesBank VideoBanker ITM at an unspecified branch's drive-through. Photo courtesy of PeoplesBank

Holyoke-based PeoplesBank is set to open “at least” four units of its interactive teller machines, also known as ITMs, in the Hartford metro area.

The bank is pushing for an “opportunistic expansion” of its video and virtual assistant-enabled ITM network in both Connecticut and Massachusetts only to complement its physical branches – whether within the same address as the branch, or in a separate location not far from a branch – and not replace them, said Aleda DeMaria, executive vice president of Consumer Banking and Operations at PeoplesBank.

Under the name VideoBankerITM, PeoplesBank’s ITMs can carry out all transactions that a customer can get from a physical branch except cashier’s checks and money orders. It can do “simple complex transactions” such as split deposits, split loan payments, withdrawals in specific denominations and many others.

DeMaria said the ITMs act as a “convenience hub” for customers where people can drive by the machines and get their bank transactions done even during lunch, nights, and weekends.

She said the VideoBankerITMs can serve customers two ways: by inserting their cards and carrying out simple transactions such as withdrawals and deposits while being shown videos to assist transactions, or by tapping the screen and talking to a video banker associate who can assist customers.

Since opening its first two ITMs in September 2019, PeoplesBank has 35 live ITMs today, employing 14 video bankers that assist customers with their ITM transactions.

The bank has $3.6 billion in total assets and 20 bank offices in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.