Bank customers given increased access to counter service

Bank customers given increased access to counter service FöreningsSparbanken and the independent savings banks, who already has the largest branch office network among Swedish banks today, are extending their distribution network on the basis of a collaboration agreement with Posten. The management of FöreningsSparbanken predicts that by the summer, customers will be able to receive simple counter services at post offices and through rural postmen. "Alongside the independent savings banks, we are represented at over 900 branches around Sweden today. The agreement with Posten will provide our customers with access to counter services in another 1,350 places. They can also obtain the same service from the 2,700 rural postmen," says Ingrid Persson, Head of Retail. By the summer holiday season, customers of both FöreningsSparbanken and the independent savings banks will be able to start depositing and withdrawing money from their accounts and paying their bills at Posten. "Although there is a sharp rise in the use of Internet and telephone banking services, we know that the branches and physical meeting places are very important to many of our customers. It's therefore very positive that we are now boosting our distribution network and raising counter service availability in many areas throughout Sweden," says Ingrid Persson. For further information, please contact: Ingrid Persson, Executive Vice President and Head of Retail, tel. +46 8 585 927 10 Jesper Berggren, Press Manager, tel. +46 8 585 924 78, +46 705 493 767 Erik Hägglöv, Representative of the National Association of Independent Savings Banks, tel. +46 911 231 422, +46 706 966 110 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/07/20010307BIT00620/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/07/20010307BIT00620/bit0001.pdf