If you had to list the buildings where you valued security the most, I’m pretty sure bank security would be pretty close to the top. Obviously, schools come first (or I at least hope so, you monsters), but after our precious children, I’m pretty serious about protecting my hard earned cash.

Thankfully, banks also take the security of your cash pretty seriously. (They’d be in a lot of trouble if they didn’t. I think they picked up on that.) Recently, I spoke with a member of our EMS team to talk about some of the latest and greatest things they’re focusing on in bank security.

Electrified Push Bars

Life Safety Code mandates that, given the bank’s level of occupancy, they must have a push to exit device that covers at least half of the opening. An electrified push bar meets this requirement, and it has the added bonus of the extra security electronic access can bring.

The goal is for the electrified push bar to only provide access to someone who has current credentials. This eliminates the need for rekeys or changing the code if an employee leaves the company or is terminated. If either of those instances occurs, their credentials are simply not valid any longer.

Bank Security and Parabit Doors

Banks have also begun to implement doors equipped with electronic locks that work in conjunction with a Parabit card reader to allow a customer entry into an ATM vestibule.  The vestibule has a customer access control door where they have their own set of credentials to gain access to secured ATMs after hours. The credentials come in the form of the customer’s credit or debit card and they’ll be able to swipe that at a card reader to open the door to the vestibule.

Once inside, there is another set of electronic push bars on the interior set for bank employees to enter later.

Price Range

Unfortunately increasing bank security doesn’t come cheap. The act of electrifying openings are not on the inexpensive side of the spectrum. To electrify the openings, the cost can range from two hundred to a few thousand dollars, and this doesn’t include the electronics that tie into the locks. These can cost upwards of $80,000 per location.

While that is quite the chunk of change, when it comes to the security of all of your customers’ finances, no amount is too much and electrified push bars are an excellent option.

Are you in the banking industry and electrified push bars something your facility wants to move towards? Contact us! Our EMS team is standing by and ready to help.