ROYAL BANK PART OF NEW ELECTRONIC BANKING NET
By Adnews Staff
With the brave new world of Internet and interactive banking looming over the horizon, the Royal Bank of Canada has announced it is gearing up for the coming changes. Royal has hooked up with 14 other North American banks to form the Integrion Financial Network, an alliance that will offer interactive banking and electronic commerce services to banks in the U.S. and Canada. Integrion will be owned and operated by the 15 banks and U.S.-based International Business Machines Corp. The new body will allow the banks to help determine the manner and format in which these services are offered to customers. Bank users will soon be able to access services via the Internet by using a Web browser, through financial management software, or by way of a touch-tone phone. Eventually, customers may be able to use interactive television and kiosks, as the market for those products develops. Royal Bank spokesperson Dan Maceluch told Adnews this week that a December pilot launch of some of these new services will be made under the Royal Direct PC Banking banner. There will be an ad campaign for that effort beginning in November likely using direct mail and print ads. An agency has not been decided upon, but those on Royal's roster include Mongeau, Bacon and Chen of Montreal and Toronto, Allard Communications of Montreal and Roche Macaulay & Partners Advertising, The Gingko Group and Wunderman Cato Johnson, all of Toronto.