A large German cooperative bank, Volksbank Schwarzwald Baar Hegau, has installed an interactive property search kiosk in its property department, the KompetenzCenter Bauen & Wohnen (competence center for building and housing), according to an announcement from kiosk provider NCR Corp.

The real estate search package consists of an NCR SelfServ 85 kiosk with touchscreen, software and services which has a user interface similar to that of a smartphone or tablet PC. NCR said the kiosk draws attention to the branch and creates a one-stop shopping experience for property transactions.

Customers using the kiosk can select properties on a map, zoom in on images, scan QR codes, save details on their mobile devices, or leave their contact details for further information. They can then go on to set up a financial consultation at the branch.

"Thanks to NCR technology we now have a modern medium that offers customers much more than standard printed notices, and a real alternative to Internet property search," Martin Mantel, director of the bank's KompetenzCenter, said in a statement. "Due to the interactive touchscreen and the diverse range of images and information, searching is now a lot of fun. In the first 45 days alone, the properties displayed on the kiosk have been clicked 3,000 times. And, with our individual consultant and funding offering, customers can make the right choice right in the branch."

"If we look at branch transformation, interactive digital media are becoming ever more important," Herald Heinz, NCR's area sales leader for finance in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said in a statement. "They facilitate a modern service experience and improve customer dialogue."