Swedbank start Banken via internet for young people

Swedbank to start bank for young people The first bank in Sweden to do so, Swedbank (FöreningsSparbanken) is starting an Internet bank for young people. In addition to simpler banking services, the bank will offer its young account holders such features as interesting articles and games. In a pilot project, some 3,000 youngsters from 15 to 17 years of age will be testing the system until the turn of the year. A full-scale launch is expected to follow in early 2002. "Young people are a large and important customer group, and many of them already need the bank's services. On the whole, the group is highly computer-literate, which makes it natural for us to commence this service on the Internet," says Håkan Nyberg, Manager of Swedbank's Internet operations. Banken via Internet-Ung ("The Bank via Internet-Young") will be both useful and fun, giving young people good opportunities for insight into, and control over, their finances. The service, which is predicated on approval by the minors' parent(s) or guardian(s), will provide account-holders a good overview over their personal finances and enable them to transfer funds among their own Swedbank accounts. The service will also include calculation and budget tools to facilitate goal-oriented saving. Through contracted third parties, we will also be introducing such value- added functions as current newspaper and magazine articles on topics including travel, music, IT, finance and entertainment. Banken via Internet-Ung will be based on a wholly new platform exploiting state-of-the-art technology. That same platform, moreover, will underlie Swedbank's future development and provision of services throughout its digital presence: e.g., Internet, mobile services and digital TV. "Efficient 'recycling' of the services in our third-generation Internet platform and use of a new working method are minimising the time and costs of moving from business idea to up-and-running service in both new and existing channels," says Gert Engman, Executive Vice President, CIO and Head of E-business area at Swedbank. For further information Beatrice Nygren-Hjelm, Business Development, FöreningsSparbanken via Internet Phones: +46 8 5859 3888 or (mobile) +46 70 341 7908 Eva-Kristin Öhman, Marketing Manager, FöreningsSparbanken via Internet +46 8 5859 1362 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/24/20010924BIT01020/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/24/20010924BIT01020/bit0002.pdf