Is this the bank of the future?

Polish Bank Alior has unveiled a digital bank that includes Facebook payments and an "entertainment area."

Alior's virtual branches are aimed at younger, tech savvy consumers. Features of the digital bank include the ability to speak to or text bank staff, send p2p payments through Facebook and an entertainment area, where users can watch films, listen to music and play games.

Alior Bank is pitching the Alior Sync as a new type of financial services firm, available anytime, anywhere, for a young, digitally savvy customer base.

Alior Sync is replacing physical branches with a virtual one that can be accessed through its website. The site contains a tab showing users how many bank staff are available to talk and through which medium - video, audio or text chat. When a customer clicks on an option they are put through to a member of staff and a screen where they can carry out transactions.



Additional to regular online banking features, Alior Sync has also developed Android and iOS mobile apps that let customers check their finances, transfer funds and pay invoices using their mobile’s camera.



A finance management tool is also offered, which can import account histories from other banks, and is aimed at assisting customers keep track of their budget. A “payments assistant” helps control spending and alerts users when transactions occur.

The bank has also worked with vendor IND Group on an app that lets customers transfer money directly to friends through Facebook photos without having to leave the page. The transactions are authorized using one-time codes sent via text messages and captcha. PayPal payments can also be made via e-mail.



Alior Sync has also added an entertainment area where users can watch films, listen to music and play games.

Is this the bank branch of the future?

ATM innovation – Using QR codes – Bank volunteers wanted

NCR is looking for banks to help pilot their new Mobile Cash Withdrawal software using QR Codes. The software will be available later this year for initial integrations into NCR APTRA ATM software platforms. The bank’s customers can utilize a standalone mobile app for cash withdrawals or NCR will integrate the solution into the bank’s mobile banking system so that consumers can use the bank’s mobile banking app as an ATM interface. NCR claim that with this system the entire ATM transaction can take less than 10 seconds. Watch the concept in the following video.

If you are a bank and are interested in this pilot, contact details are provided at the end of the video.

In- House Training

June has already dawned on us – 2012 is almost half gone. Before we know it the summer vacations will be here (for those in the Northern Hemisphere). For those in Southern parts, mid-year is that tipping point that begins the count-down to the Year End holidays.

I have a simple question for you. Are you going to achieve your Staff Training targets for 2012?

One of the most effective ways to do this is through In-House Training. In-House Training provides the most cost effective vehicle for maximizing your training budgets and your training reach. It is, all said and done, the cheapest way to get the most staff trained for the least dollar spend. For details and costing of how much you can save, please read our blog post "Road Trip or Staying Put? Why training in-house makes sense".

Citadel Advantage provides a comprehensive range of training courses covering the various aspects of Operations Risk Management and Compliance for commercial and central banks, as well as bank Payment Systems and all associated Back Office operations activities.

In-house courses and workshops can be customized to ensure that they meet your unique needs. Our courses are aimed at helping you cope with the many challenges you face.

Your staff is your greatest asset. In-house training allows you to minimize costs while increasing its effectiveness and impact on your staff. If you thought in-house training was just for the other guy or that your institution was too small, think again! We'll come to you, wherever and whenever you need.

Your team needs training. Why not hold a private course? You will find that our programs exceptionally cost effective - and what could be more important in these financial times. In-house training makes more than common sense, it makes economic sense.

All our public courses are available as in-house courses. For a full range of what we offer please see our course catalog by clicking HERE.

We are also able to tailor our courses to your company's / bank's specific requirements. We'll work with you to develop either a one-time or a long-term training program.

For a detailed needs analysis and quotation, please call our Principal Associate Richard Barr on;

• Asia Pacific: +852 8175 7916

• Europe: +44 20 7193 5913

• North America: +1 408 627 7607

OR e-mail him at: richard@citadeladvantage.com

The world in 2050

"MEGACHANGE", a new book from The Economist, imagines how the world will look in 2050. Economist book's editor, Daniel Franklin, provided a summary of its findings.

Megachange: The World in 2050

View more webinars from The Economist

Is Facebook a truly innovative organization?

Clayton Christensen, of the Harvard Business School, says that Facebook is not yet a truly innovative company. Watch this video to find out why.

Barclays coming Mobile Banking smartphone app

Aimed at allowing Barclay’s UK customers to manage their money on the move the bank is promoting its upcoming release of its mobile banking app. In the promotion Barclays state, “We know you've been waiting for our Mobile Banking app to arrive, so we're currently giving our customers the option to provide their UK mobile number to receive a text message from us to let you know when it's available to download, so you can be one of the first to use it”.

Here is a preview. 

PayPal on the UK High Street – Four major retailers sign up

PayPal has signed deals with four major UK high street retailers that will see customers able to make in-store payments using their mobile phones. The service launches nationally on the 31st May 2012

PayPal customers in the UK will be able to use their smartphones to pay for their shopping at four major high street retail stores: Coast, Oasis, Warehouse, and Karen Millen.

Customers download the PayPal InStore app, link it to their PayPal account and set up a PIN for security. In store, the app generates a unique barcode and transaction number, which the shop cashier scans to take payment from the customer's PayPal account.