Genetec Security Center security platform deployed at Cornhusker Bank in Nebraska

Security Center combines video and access control operations to handle multi-branch investigations from a central location

Genetec™, a leading provider of unified IP security solutions recently announced that Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln, Nebraska has revamped its security operations across all branches using Genetec Security Center, a unified security platform that blends video surveillance (Omnicast) and access control (Synergis).

Established over 100 years ago, Cornhusker Bank is a privately owned bank with several locations throughout Lincoln. Cornhusker has always implemented strict security policies and taken every measure to protect its establishments, patrons and associates. However, as surveillance technology improved, the bank found itself with a mix of older analogue and newer IP video systems. Although the systems were working, some equipment and technology were becoming obsolete.

“We chose Security Center because it offers a robust solution that supports the different cameras we already had installed. It also allows us to combine video and access control operations to handle multi-branch investigations from a central location,” says Royce Jeffries, Vice President of Security and Risk Management at Cornhusker Bank.

Today, Security Center has been installed at six bank locations, including the Bank's technology center. Genetec Omnicast, the video surveillance system in Security Center, manages over 100 cameras across all sites. Synergis, the access control system of Security Center secures, manages and tracks all access to the doors within the bank’s technology center, sensitive areas of the main branch, and access to the bank's datacenter.

By moving away from locks and keys to an IP access control system Cornhusker Bank is able to realise tighter control over branch access. With support for dual-authentication in Synergis, the bank was able to implement both a proximity card and PIN authentication for employees to gain access. In the event of a lost or stolen card, the facility is still be protected by a PIN code entry.

Another notable advantage for Cornhusker Bank has been having all security information under one platform. According to Jeffries, “We can see everything from one platform, rather than logging on and off different systems to find the needed information; all the access control data is tied to video, and all our sites are easily accessible from one interface.”

On the video side, the system ensures camera coverage for all entrances, tellers, cash handling and other pivotal areas inside and outside the facilities. Locations with drive-through tellers receive some extra attention to clearly capture vehicle descriptions, license plates and driver faces in hopes of protecting customers who fall victim to fraud.

While Cornhuskers Bank has immediately begun benefitting from the perks of the new system, the entire community is also reaping many shared benefits. Cornhusker Bank receives frequent requests from local law enforcement to pull video for other crimes around the facilities.

“The police love the quality of our video,” says Jeffries. “During investigations, the security team can access the video from Omnicast without any interruption. It’s a new system with far more capabilities, but it’s been simple enough to go back and look through video to determine what happened, and then quickly export the video to fulfil law enforcement requests,” he added.

The Security Center Mobile feature has also proven to be very useful for investigations, allowing security staff to quickly log on with an iPad or laptop from anywhere in case an intrusion alarm goes off, allowing immediate remote access to assess the scene and determine the need for law enforcement.

“Security Center is a reliable and centralised platform that helps us manage most aspects of security. Not only can we look at video, but we can also monitor who is coming and going. We have also been able to grow at our own pace, so standardising on a unified security platform was the right long-term choice for our bank,” concluded Jeffries.