Bancpost to offer non-stop services

Bancpost is preparing to provide non-stop services for its individual clients, who will be able to conduct basic card based operations in special areas located within the bank’s branches. The move is part of a more extensive plan to develop alternative channels enabling clients to conduct banking operations outside traditional working hours, or without having to go to a local branch. “To begin with, we will set up 20 designated locations, which will be open 24 hours a day. The services will include an ATM, an automated payment system and a computer, which clients will be able to use for Internet banking transactions,” Marian Ignat, 33, Bancpost manager in charge of developing alternative Internet channels, told ZF. Dutch bank ING brought the self-service concept outside traditional working hours onto the local market in 2004. Later, ABN Amro introduced similar services, while BCR, BRD-SocGen, Raiffeisen and HVB Bank have also developed projects of a similar nature.