Standard Bank has introduced several upgrades and enhancements to its Internet banking site, including easier navigation for visually impaired customers.
The Internet banking site's new navigation system and processing technology makes it easier and quicker for customers to transact.
The enhancements include a demonstration of the system, as well as full online tutorial and extensive help files.
To make payments simpler, Standard Bank has separated them into a range of different options: immediate, future-dated or repeat payments.
The statements facility has also been substantially upgraded and repackaged. Customers can now access statements going back 180 days. The new format, with enhanced downloading capabilities, accommodates various accounting package formats.
Standard Bank recently also offered customers free McAfee personal firewall and anti-virus software free for a year as part of the bank's initiative to provide customers with a safer online environment. In addition, the bank has also introduced a calculator-type pin-pad safety device on its Internet banking site to counter keystroke logging.
Visually impaired customers can now access the Internet banking site using their own screen-reading software. Through the use of voice tags, which interface with programmes such as Jaws or Windows Eyes, the system now enables them to navigate effortlessly around the site.
Says Herman Singh, Director: Direct Channels at Standard Bank: "Although our system has always been easy to use, constant technological changes means there is always opportunity to better the offering. This constant cycle of revision and improvement ensures we are of a consistently high international standard."
The bank has developed a Web site console that allows it to configure and deploy the same core Web site for different markets, countries and regions. The bank can "switch on" functions on the Web sites, configure elements such as currencies, logos and languages and create specific application server configurations for specific Web sites. The console has been successfully deployed to configure the bank's new Standard Bank Offshore Web site, based in Jersey.
"We know that the Internet banking experience will be far more positive, not to mention convenient, if customers understand the capabilities of the site, and how it all works. So to ease customers into online banking, we have developed a demonstration of the system, as well as full online tutorial and extensive help files. The tutorial guides customers through the entire process - from creating a beneficiary to making the first online payment. Customers can learn it at their own pace - and all the information can be printed out for later reference.
"We believe that these enhancements make it far quicker and simpler for customers to do their banking. The new features we've introduced add even more value to an already dynamic online banking platform," says Singh.
More information on Standard Bank Internet banking can be obtained from www.standardbank.co.za or by calling 0860 123 000.
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