Caisses Desjardins and Bell Canada are piloting the use of high-speed Internet terminals at bank branches as a complementary service to automated teller machines.
The e-stations are equipped with a computer screen and keyboard that uses Bell Business High Speed Internet to provide access to various financial products and services offered by the bank's AccèsD Internet banking service. These include routine transactions currently conducted over ATMs, such as bill payments, funds transfers and balance checks. Additionally, customers will be able to purchase savings products on-line, such as the Desjardins Funds, obtain a Visa Desjardins credit card or take out an insurance policy.
The terminals have so far been installed in some fifteen branches, primarily in the Montreal area, as well as in some points of service located in grocery stores. Desjardins also plans to roll out the kiosks at major public events. The bank is training students to operate the terminals and perform public demonstrations of the technology for the duration of the pilot project.
Éric Lemieux, Desjardins vice president electronic payment and access services, comments: "Since its introduction in 1996, our AccèsD Internet service has steadily gained in popularity, and we're convinced that many of our members, who have yet to try this service, will be very interested in learning more about it. That's the primary reason for our joint initiative with Bell."