Sweden's Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken is broadening its range of remote business services for SMEs with the establishment of a corporate Web portal and telephone advice line.
The corporate portal provides customers with access to financial analyses ranging from SEB's reports on Sweden's economic climate to interest-rate and currency information and the situation in growth markets. Customers are also provided with financial news and data and daily morning reports from SEB.
Companies may use an interactive encyclopaedia to obtain guidance and tips about marketing, accounting, financing and other specialised areas. Links are also provided to 300 third-party corporate information sites.
In addition, the bank has established e-line, a corporate advisory service via telephone that is open seven days a week. The service is designed to advise customers on investment, financing, corporate insurance and personnel matters.
"SEB is now taking the first step towards offering corporate customers advanced advisory services via the Internet. We recognise that many small- and medium-sized companies often suffer from a lack of time and resources. Our aim is therefore to function as their advisory partners, while also assisting them with financial services via the Net," says Claes-Johan Thureson, head of midcorporate within SEB.