Citibank launches first smart banking branch in Philippines
MANILA
Philippines’s largest foreign bank scores another industry first with the introduction of smart banking in its Makati branch. With intuitive touch screens and high definition media walls, smart banking is a revolutionary banking experience designed to attract, engage and connect clients with products and services, all on demand.
With smart banking, Citibank’s Makati branch has been transformed into a sleek, expansive office, drawing admiring comments from clients. Popular features include an Interactive Media Wall that displays a diverse range of product information as well as services menu; Instant Account Opening stations that allow customers to conduct banking transactions such as opening an account virtually paperless and at their own pace; and Video Chat facilities that offer immediate access to the bank’s officers in other locations.
Once again, Citibank is blazing the trail in banking technology and innovation with the launch of the first Smart Banking branch in the country. Citibank is committed to be the leader in innovation and digital banking in Asia Pacific, and the Smart Banking concept was launched first in this region. As a customer-centric bank, we continue to offer cutting-edge facilities and relevant market information to further enhance our customers’ banking experience, said Citi Country Officer for the Philippines Sanjiv Vohra.
With technology as enabler, Citibank is giving customers control over their banking needs. “Imagine being able to open a savings account, book a Time Deposit or apply and get a credit card all within a few minutes and on your own. We wanted to create an environment that will be attractive to our clients as well as to the public. Since we opened, we’ve had visitors so impressed that they opened accounts after getting a tour, explained Sergio Zanatti, Consumer Business Manager for Citibank Philippines.
Vohra and Zanatti provided select members of the media a private tour of the state of the art branch, which represents one of the biggest investments the bank has made in its consumer banking operations this year. Citibank in the Philippines joins 11 other markets in the launch of Smart Banking branches across Asia Pacific.
Clients also enjoy the ability of opening an account from a tablet that Citi Service Associates carry around the branch. A global first, Citi Philippines offers clients the convenience of opening accounts from an iPad as they comfortably lounge anywhere in the branch.
Standing tall at the Citibank smart branch is the 360 Station, which gives a glimpse of what next generation banking looks like. Aside from being able to make deposits and withdrawals in peso and US dollars like a regular Citibank ATM, the 360 Station allows clients to get scanned receipts of check deposits, make overseas funds transfers, book time deposits, request for statements, inquire about foreign exchange rates and so much more. All these using a completely new customer interface that makes screen navigation much more intuitive and simpler.
The split-screen machine can display personalized promotions and offers and allows clients to speak with a CitiPhone officer on one screen while conducting business on the other. The 360 Station has also been built with Near Field Communication ( NFC) and biometric capability as well as scanning and embossing functions to allow for a future roll out of additional functionalities, such as instant printing of an ATM card, issuance of manager’s checks and more, over time.