Functionality of Cash-dispensers Will "Lead" Banks to the Streets, Closer to Client

The President of Swedish bank “Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken” (SEB) Lars H. Thunell and other high officials spoke to the Prime minister of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas during their visit to Lithuania on January 23. The guests also participated in the presentation of banking technologies organized by JSC "Penki kontinentai". The guests from Sweden were accompanied by the President of Vilniaus Bankas Julius Niedvaras. Last year SEB group acquired 100 per cent of Vilniaus Bankas shares, also the shares of Latvian “Unibanka” and Estonian “Uhispank”. Now this is the most profitable group of banks in a region (only in Lithuania VB takes 40 percent of the market). It is believed that the development program in the Baltic countries has been finished already and now more attention is to be paid to quality of services and innovations. There is a great interest in e-banking and internet banking and new solutions concerning cash dispensers. During the presentation "Penki kontinentai" demonstrated the newest banking technologies solutions, which will be also presented to visitors of an exhibition "Wincor World 2001". "Wincor Nixdorf" sales manager Eduardas Vaigauskas started presentation with an introduction speech. The director of "Penki kontinentai" Banking department Pranas Griðkevièius ant the Director of Internet department Edvardas Filistovièius spoke about the company and the newest products. The guests showed a big interest in common cash dispenser „ProCash 2100“ (the same model as in streets of Lithuania) with new software, developed and produced in Lithuania. This cash dispenser can print the lottery tickets and afterwards check them by bar code; sell the parking tickets, show the map of the city with the scheme of public transport routes and certainly perform the main operation well known to Lithuanians – money withdrawal. The greatest attention was paid at opportunity to organize videoconferences using cash-dispensers, i.e. to speak to the bank personnel and to ask for consultations; and it doesn’t matter where the banks’ subsidiary is located. Another exhibit – information printer "ProPrint". It is enabled to print A4 formats sheets of paper, but does not work with cash. Thus just transactions can be made, the monthly report of account can be printed etc. This model can be adjusted for various types of credit cards, so the holder of different bank's cards can print all reports, for instance, the holder of telecom card can receive the bill for phone calls, internet connection or other services and pay for them immediately using the same model.

From the left: SEB press atache Boo Ehlin, "SEB Baltic Holding" President Mats Kjaer, SEM Council member and SEB IT chief Lars Gustafsson, SEB group President Lars Thunell and Vilniaus bankas President Julius Niedvaras were listening to Edvardas Filistovicius' presentation of JSC "Penki kontinentai"

At present moment the new information spreading technology – information kiosk – is getting very popular over Europe. These kiosks are being placed in various places of mass gatherings – cinema theaters, airports, stations etc. Information is presented simple web page format, because this form is the most acceptable for the user. Needed pages can be also printed, even credit card transactions can be performed. In the presentation the information kiosk "ProConsult" with virtual shop window was demonstrated. This solution can be used in a supermarket. The client, who came shopping, may choose the goods, order them and pay with the card just standing by this kiosk. While orders are being proceeded he or she can do something else (communicate with business partners or to have a cup of coffee). The time is saved and the most important thing: one does not need to roam through huge supermarkets which are to grow even bigger. Using the same system it is possible to fill in special form and to obtain insurance policy (paid using credit card). Here the program for bill payments through information terminals – "Bill payment system" is used. New banking IT is getting popular very rapidly in Lithuania. The service of Internet bank "VB internetas" which became available only in September, 2000 now has 14 thousands registered users. Obvious that new solutions created by JSC "Penki kontinentai" professional staff expanding the functions of cash dispensers will obtain a big popularity. When this equipment will be installed the part of the bank would "go out" to the street, closer to the user.