Banca Popolare di Bari in branch refresh with NCR
Banca Popolare di Bari says tablet banking will make its employees more efficient
Italy’s Banca Popolare di Bari has chosen ATM manufacturer NCR to help it revitalise its branch network with a new set of systems that it says will help to cut queues and better connect with customers.
The tools from NCR consist of two components: a financial services kiosk that can complete an estimated 90% of typical branch transactions; and tablet PCs for bank employees, which are intended to help improve customer service by giving the employees access to real-time customer information as they move around the branch.
A lot of the focus is on making employees more effective. They are instantly alerted to customers that need attention, for example help with a forgotten PIN or broken card, or a request for cash withdrawal that is over the customer’s daily limit.
Later, the bank has said it will also install NCR’s Interactive Teller, which would allow the bank to provide centralised video teller services for customers in addition to the kiosks.
“Allowing customers to bank on their own terms is at the heart of how financial institutions are evolving their branch and omni-channel banking services,” said Lorenza Sbarbaro, director of Financial Services, NCR Italy. “Banca Popolare di Bari has a strong vision of how they wish to achieve this and we are proud to be their partner of choice for branch transformation.”
Tools such as these are becoming increasingly common around the globe. Last year, Standard Chartered rolled out a ‘digital branch’ in Hong Kong, in which customers are greeted by giant screen TVs, the bank’s mobile apps in a special experience zone, and QR code scanning on an iWall, as well as e-signature pads and virtual queuing. In Japan, Citi has been rolling out ‘branchless banking’ ATMs since 2010, while closer to home Nationwide Building Society has its own video banking project, which began in Wales. Other similar projects exist in Turkey and other parts of the Middle East.
Banca Popolare di Bari was founded in 1960 in the southern port city of Bari and was the first independent banking group in the south of the country. It focuses on the historic southern regions of Puglia, Campania, Calabria and Basilicata, although in recent years it has also expanded to areas such as Lazio (near Rome) and the north. The bank has 254 branches and is present in 11 Italian regions in total.
