SEB's German bank BfG has 108,000 e-banking customers
SEB's German bank BfG has 108,000 e-banking customers Next step is opening of online brokerage during the autumn At midyear, SEB's German subsidiary bank, BfG, passed the milestone of 100,000 e-banking customers. Today, BfG has 108,000 e-banking customers and the number is growing continuously as German customers show an increasing interest in conducting their banking affairs on the Internet. At the end of January, BfG had fewer than 80,000 e-banking customers, which means the number has risen by 26% in less than half a year. Via 177 bank branches and consultancy offices, BfG's approximately one million customers are offered a free Internet package that enables them to conduct their bank transactions on the Net. In addition to software, the package includes a smart card and the necessary smart-card reader for the customer's own PC. "The increase in German e-banking customers confirms the correctness of SEB's efforts to introduce e-banking in Germany, with a focus on investment services. SEB aims to capture a large share of Germany's fast- growing savings and Internet-banking market," says Johan H Larson, Global Manager, SEB e-banking. BfG's next step will be to open an online stockbrokerage in the German market, whereby the bank's customers will be provided with an opportunity to purchase fund units and shares via the Net. This service is scheduled to be launched during the autumn. BfG changes name to SEB in conjunction with the introduction of the online brokerage service. SEB launched e-banking services in Denmark in April. An online brokerage service will be introduced in Germany and the UK during the autumn. SEB has 430,000 Internet-banking customers in Sweden, 50,000 in Estonia and 10,000 in Latvia. SEB's aim is to grow in the European market for savings and Internet-banking, and to be the leading corporate bank in the Nordic region. For further information, please contact: Boo Ehlin, Press Manager. +46 8 763 85 77, +46 70 763 85 77 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/07/06/20000706BIT00290/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/07/06/20000706BIT00290/bit0002.pdf