Dutch banking group ING has ceated a virtual mini-state - ourvirtualholland - on screen-based 3D-world Second Life.
The bank says the aim of the site is to build an online community of creative and entrepeneurial people. Residents will be able to set up a new business, build their own housing and design new products.
The bank is also pitching the space as a tourist hotspot, expressly designed to reflect Dutch culture and architecture. Included in the plans is a virtual art gallery, at which ING will make available digital reproductions of its private art collection, and show work by other artists.
ING's venture into Second Life follows that of its compatriot ABN Amro, which in December opened a virtual financial advice centre for game-players.