Quando um banco adere à realidade virtual

No mundo virtual criado pelo Second Life, os utilizadores podem conviver com várias marcas reais como a IBM, a Philips ou a Adidas. Recentemente foi a vez do banco ABN Amro aderir ao universo de Second Life, investindo desta forma numa nova modalidade de comunicação com os clientes.

O press-release
ABN AMRO opens branch in Second Life

On 7 December, ABN AMRO will become the first European bank to open a branch in Second Life, the three-dimensional virtual world created on the internet. Externally, the virtual branch will be very similar to the ABN AMRO Financial Centres. To begin with, the virtual branch will offer information and create a platform where (potential) customers of the bank can meet each other. ABN AMRO will be organising seminars on Second Life for specific target groups, such as business starters or new graduates (Young Professionals) and Preferred Banking clients. ABN AMRO will also use the virtual world of Second Life to recruit new staff.Wietze Reehoorn, Board member of ABN AMRO Netherlands: "Second Life is an example of a new-generation internet site that is rapidly gaining popularity and where we want to have a presence from an early stage. It adds an extra dimension to the way in which we experience the internet. It makes internet-based communication with customers more direct and personal. The battle for supremacy between banks in the Netherlands will be won mainly by those who succeed best in the area of personal contact." This is not the first time that ABN AMRO has tried out innovative new ways of communicating with its customers. ABN AMRO became the first bank to enable customers to check their bank balances online via Windows Live Messenger (MSN). Since its introduction last September, more than 18,000 mainly young customers have started using this service. In addition, in 2007 the bank will be introducing biometric voice recognition for telephone banking, with the caller's voice being used to verify his or her identity rather than the TIN code. In the virtual world of Second Life (http://www.secondlife.com/), residents can do everything they can do in the real world. Each member has their own avatar, a three-dimensional image of the user that is the personification of what that person wishes to be and do. With almost 2 million users, Second Life has grown into a real economy, in which residents can set up businesses, sell products and services, earn 'Linden dollars' and convert them into real dollars. All this makes Second Life a perfect environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. Businesses such as IBM, Philips, Adidas, Dell, Reuters and Toyota all have a presence in Second Life

in ABN Amro - Pressroom