So, your bank has laid down a clear road to check-imaging success. But do you know what other banks in your area have up their sleeves? Keeping tabs on your competitors will not only lead to a smart business plan, but will also help you deal with customers skeptical of the switch to images.

Get the Info: Before implementing imaging technology, "we surveyed all the area banks," says Stephanie Paglia, VP operations specialist at Heritage Bank in Snohomish, WA. "So we knew ahead of time when all the other banks were getting rid of [their traditional systems] as well," she adds.

Set Your Course: Further, Heritage learned that all the local banks were charging fees for images. As a result, "we decided not to charge a fee for images in the beginning," Paglia explains. While the bank will likely charge for images eventually, right now this tactic has given them a leg up on their competition by both attracting and retaining customers.

Appease the Phobic: Check imaging is increasingly becoming mainstream, and most banking customers willingly accept the transition from traditional checks. Nevertheless, there are always "a few old school" ones, Paglia admits. Explaining exactly how the customer will benefit from the change -- such as the fact that researching an archived check will take minutes rather than a week -- can help. But it's also effective to be able to tell customers what you offer as compared to the services of other banks, she continues.