Barclays bank has opened a branch in Piccadilly Circus to
demonstrate how technology is changing the way the bank can serve
customers.
The branch will use touch-screen technology, known as
Microsoft
Surface,to allow customers to access information and
services.
The conceptual branch, which takes up 8,000 square feet in
Piccadilly Circus, is part of a programme to refurbish its entire
network of 1,733 branches in the UK.
The bank is piloting Microsoft's Surface technology, which
enables users to interaction with digital content through natural
hand gestures and touch.
Staff will also walk around with handheld PCs to help customers
and the branch has alarge self-service area including a foreign ATM
dispensing dollars and Euros and deposit machines for cash, cheques
and coins.
The branch will officially open in January.
Mike Amato, chief distribution and product officer at Barclays
said the bank has taken inspiration from retailers such as Apple
and Nike,and is trying to attract and engage individuals and
educate them about the Barclay's brand.
"We have embraced innovative technology and design which we
expect to attract the interest of the Piccadilly community in an
innovative and generous way and of course enable our customers to
be able to interact with us in the way that suits them and in
surroundings that are comfortable and accessible for all."
Barclays Bank is currently involved in a
multimillion-pound programme to update the IT in its network of
branches as part of a company-wide drive to improve the efficiency
of its computer systems and reduce overheads.
The bank is spending an estimated £200m to replace outdated
branch hardware and software, networks systems, storage systems and
its automatic teller machine (ATM) infrastructure with
state-of-the-art equipment, through a mixture of outsourcing and
in-house development.