CorpComms Magazine

New Zealand bank ASB has taken Internet banking one step further, with the world's first Virtual Branch on Facebook.

The new banking application will offer customers secure, real-time, face-to-fembot conversations with a range of banking specialists from 8am to 9pm seven days a week and is even available to non-members of ASB.

The service has been launched on a trial basis to gauge customer interest, under the slogan: 'Most banks talk at you. We're here to chat with you. We're here to listen to you.'

Responding to concerns over the site's security features, virtual assistant Elyse assures users that the application employs the same encryption software as ASB's online and mobile banking application FastNet.

Anna Curzon, general manager of internet banking at ASB, said: 'We believe this is the first 'Virtual Branch' application of its kind to be launched by a bank on Facebook, anywhere in the world. 

'By adding Facebook and other social media channels, customers and potential customers can choose to connect with ASB in the ways they are most comfortable with.'

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