Latest Branch banking News: Finextra Research

Barclays taps BT for free in-branch Wi-Fi

Barclays has teamed up with BT to become the first major UK high street bank to introduce free Wi-Fi for customers in its 1500 branches.

18 February 2013

News/Branch banking

Moven gears up for launch

Having ditched the 'bank' from its name, US mobile-centric financial services provider Moven is gearing up for a closed beta launch at the end of February.

12 February 2013

News/Branch banking

ME Bank introduces mini workplace branches

Australia's ME Bank has opened its first mini branch - complete with a meeting room, an ATM, videoconferencing and online services - within a local telco's call centre.

08 February 2013

News/Branch banking

UK Chancellor plans on UK payments shake-up

George Osborne, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, has threatened to break up the UK's big banks if they fail to follow new rules to ring-fence risky investment operations from their retail operations, and promised a shake-up of the payment system to boost competition in the sector.

04 February 2013

News/Branch banking

Bridge Community Bank introduces in-branch biometric security

Bridge Community Bank is introducing a biometrics-based system from Tascet for verifying customers in branches.

24 January 2013

News/Branch banking

Co-op may be forced into £200 million IT write-off if Lloyds deal goes ahead

The UK's Co-operative Bank may be forced to write down £200 million in IT costs if it completes its agreement to buy 632 Lloyds Bank branches.

23 January 2013

News/Branch banking

Westpac embarks on major branch network overhaul

Dismissing forecasts of the bank branch's imminent demise, Westpac has committed A$240 million to a major, tech-heavy overhaul designed to bring its network into the 21st century.

11 December 2012

News/Branch banking

Nationwide launches online-based current account

The UK's Nationwide Building Society is trying to move customers out if its branches with the launch of a current account that can only be used online and over the phone.

28 November 2012

News/Branch banking

Barclays makes bulk iPad order for branch sales

Barclays Bank has made a bulk order for 1800 iPads which will be distributed to staff in an effort to boost customer service and cross-sales at the branch.

23 November 2012

News/Branch banking

Retail banks increase innovation spending despite tough economy

Despite a tough economic climate, the vast majority of retail banks around the world are still increasing their spending on innovation, with online and mobile services seen as priorities, according to a survey from Infosys and Efma.

13 November 2012

News/Branch banking

BofE's Haldane backs shared database for customer accounts to boost competition

Senior Bank of England executive Andy Haldane has backed calls for the creation of a shared database for the storage of customer account details, arguing that the move would help boost competition in financial services.

31 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Disabled and elderly facing payments barriers - study

Elderly and disabled Brits face significant barriers in accessing and using payment systems, often forced to resort to workarounds such as sharing cards and PINs, according to research from the Payments Council.

25 October 2012

News/Branch banking

RBS preps £80 million IT overhaul - Telegraph

After June's IT meltdown and last week's collapse of a deal to sell off branches to Santander, the Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing an £80 million overhaul of its mainframe computer systems, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

22 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Citi Mobile claims one million users in AsiaPac; 95% of transactions now occur away from branch

Citibank claims to have signed up more than one million active subscribers to its Citi Mobile package in the Asia Pacific region, just four years after launching the app.

16 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Santander blames IT integration issues for RBS branch network deal collapse

Spanish banking giant Santander has pulled out of its deal to buy 316 UK branches from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), blaming IT integration costs and complications.

15 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Grow Financial branch lures passers-by with virtual money machine

Tampa-based credit union Grow Financial has installed a giant, augmented reality video wall outside its latest branch where passers-by can play a game and win money.

10 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Bank branch reform key to retail banking recovery - A T Kearney

Retail banks across Europe need to rethink their business models, in particular the role of the branch network, if they are to return to pre-crisis levels of profitability says consultancy A T Kearney.

09 October 2012

News/Branch banking

Internet overtakes branch as channel of choice for Australians

Internet banking has overtaken branch visits as the preferred access channel for banking services in Australia, according to a 'state of the nation' study by Roy Morgan Research.

08 October 2012

News/Branch banking

UN urges central banks to allow postal services to issue e-money

Central banks should make sure that postal operators can issue electronic money so that they can offer mobile financial services and help bank the unbanked, according to a report from a United Nations agency.

05 October 2012

News/Branch banking

ANZ to invest $1.5 billion in channel overhaul

ANZ has unveiled plans for a $1.5 billion tech investment programme to overhaul its branch-based and digital distribution channels, including the roll-out of in-branch videoconferencing and new mobile banking and payments services.

04 October 2012