Though she declined to go into details for security reasons, Darcy Burns said that, for one thing, there is a lot less cash involved than you might think.

Burns is an area retail leader for Key Bank, which opened its third Bothell branch Feb. 16 in Canyon Park on Bothell-Everett Highway, next to Fred Meyer.

In general, Burns was talking about what is involved in opening a local branch of a national bank.

“This was started over a year ago,” she said.

First, of course, regional bank officials needed to identify a location and investigate its feasibility. Burns said Key open new branches “de novo,” Latin or legalese, for “all new,” or “fresh.” That means the new branch has no built-in customers. If you have a business or individual account with Key, that account will not be transferred to a new branch just because it is closer to you.

With all that in mind, Burns said Key stocks its new locations largely with seasoned employees. A Bothell resident, Canyon Park branch manager Jennifer Koval took over the new office after managing a Mill Creek location.

“It’s just like opening a brand-new business,” Koval said of launching the Canyon Park Key.

In order to grow the branch’s client base, Koval and her staff have been knocking on the doors of local businesses, visiting homeowners associations and so on. Key hung door hangers on residences in the neighborhood.

“I don’t want to overwhelm people, but I want them to know Key is here,” Koval said, adding the challenge before her and her staff is to grow the branch’s portfolio by about $1 million a month.

On a morning about a week before the opening, the bank still had that new-building smell and look. The lobby was clean, clear and organized, but behind the scenes, boxes could be seen piled up here and there awaiting emptying. Koval and Burns both said more forms, papers and equipment would be arriving. Still, both of the pair talked a lot about how the banking business is moving more and more toward becoming an electronic operation.

“Everything is almost paperless,” Burns said.

For example, Key no longer uses withdrawal slips. When a customer wants to take money out of an account, they use their ATM card and sign an electronic pad, one of which sits at each teller station. Burns believes that is a big improvement, saying one job of staff used to be to keep an eye on wastebaskets in the branches, watching for anyone rummaging around for copies or discarded slips that might contain account numbers or other important, private information.

According to Burns and Koval, when they started in banking, another task of every teller was processing customer checks, even filming them to keep track of them. Now, paper checks are becoming more and more things of the past as customers pay bills online. Businesses who do receive checks from customers don’t even have to bring those checks into the bank. Instead, they can use a piece of scanning equipment provided by Key to electronically send images of any checks, keeping the paper copies for their own records.

Oh, as for that other type of paper, the minted kind, Burns said there is no longer any need for branches to keep large sums of it in their vaults. Once again, the Internet, electronic banking and ATM cards have changed how banks operate. Business owners used to bring in large deposit amounts on a regular basis. Now, they take many payments with ATM or credit cards, cutting down immensely on the amount of cash that actually needs to be toted to the nearest bank at the end of the business day. Electronic transfers have cut down significantly on cash withdrawals, another reason banks need less actual money on hand.

Still, Koval made a point of stating if a customer needs a large amount of cash, the bank can provide it. If they don’t have enough on hand, they can have the money brought in by armored car.

All in all, the new Key branch has seven full-time employees, with specialists or partners visiting on a regular basis to deal with such issues as retirement planning or mortgage loans. The branch includes a community or meeting room that eventually will feature at least a couple of photos provided by the Bothell Historical Society.

Koval seemed genuinely pleased with her new surroundings, noting what she called a prime location near major retail and on a major street. She and Burns also touted the bank’s two drive-through teller stations and drive-up ATM.

While the bank opened to customers Feb. 16, Burns said a grand opening is planned for March 8-13, with many community events slated for March 13.