Innovative technological solutions, from the National Bank of Greece and Microsoft

“Our partnership with Microsoft, gives us the chance to try out new technologies that we could see utilized in the future at the traditional network of branches. The com- bination of cloud computing and the interactive simplic- Customer: National Bank of Greece ity of tablet devices, gives a whole new dimension to the Web Site: www.nbg.gr Number of employees: 15.000 experience that a visitor gets at the i-bank store.” Country: Greece Nelly Tzakou, General Operations Manager at the National Bank of Greece Industry: Financial Services – Banking sector

Customer’s profile The National Bank of Greece is the largest bank in Greece. With more than 562 branches and over 1485 ATMs, it covers the whole geographical region of Greece. Besides that, it develops alternative points of sale for its products, like the Mobile and Internet Banking services. Today, and after the recent takeovers The National Bank of Greece, in collaboration with Microsoft, in the region of southeastern Europe and eastern Mediterranean, the Bank’s international utilizes an innovative and interactive learning experience at the network consists of 1154 units. i-bank store, which is based on tablet-technology and cloud computing. As far as innovative solutions are concerned, both Software and Services • Microsoft Windows 7 on a design level and on a service level through the multiplex of • Microsoft Office 365 electronic banking that the i-bank store offers, the National Bank of Greece chooses an extremely modern solution for informing and teaching, a solution that is based on slates which run Microsoft’s Windows 7. Slates are ideal educational means and can provide the user with unlimited views of his chosen content, thanks to Microsoft’s SharePoint Online website from the new cloud-based productivity service – Microsoft Office 365.

Business Needs i-bank stores operate today at Athens and At the start of this year, the National Bank of Thessaloniki, as well as a smaller i-bank corner For more information regarding successful Greece has created the first i-bank store at the at Thessaloniki. realizations of Microsoft’s products and “The Mall” shopping center, a concept store services to other clients, you may visit the which is considered a novelty for banking in It is a banking multiplex of fascinating following address: general, and innovative not just for Greece, architecture, which offers a unique experience www.microsoft.com/casestudies but on an international level as well. Two on electronic self-service banking through the usage of the latest modern technology. All which will run on Slates – tablet PCs running knowledge – to get accustomed with the the electronic i-bank services are presented the Windows 7 operating system – and will be execution of electronic banking transactions in a high-tech environment: Internet, Mobile, able to take advantage of all the characteristics and the follow up of educational content, in a Phone banking, ATM, Centers of automated of the devices. Microsoft has chosen “Indice” safe and easy to use environment. payments – APS, Standing orders. The visitor, for the realization of the educational either by himself or with the help of specialized application. More information employees, may explore the way that his For more information regarding Microsoft, banking transactions are executed through a Slates are an excellent solution for editing its products and services, you may visit the modern optic angle. content and interacting with it through any following address of their applications. They allow at the same http://www.microsoft.com/hellas/ Besides that, the i-bank store is a place of time the usage of the inherent security entertainment, interaction and education: characteristics of Microsoft’s Windows 7, you may take part in the presentations and like BitLocker for example, which allows the discussions that take place at the specially encryption of each user’s data. configured amphitheater, in order to get informed and exchange views in matters that It’s rather simple to navigate and extremely concern the areas of technology, economy, easy to use for users of every age, and takes modern banking services, environment and advantage of all the characteristics of the ecology. device. The application has been designed in a way that it will be able to communicate and The National Bank of Greece is trying out new synchronize with SharePoint Online, which is applications in the i-bank store, like video- an inextricable part of Microsoft Office 365. All banking, the augmented reality technology the content, which is stored inside the cloud, and the info kiosk with its touch screens. Using is presented in the application and doesn’t the same logic of innovative applications, require the launch of any external application. and always keeping in mind the interactive Moreover, the administrator of the application educational experience, the National Bank may update the content depending on the of Greece implements a pilot program in needs of the i-bank store, centrally and collaboration with Microsoft. through a way that is simple, controlled and accessible through the internet. The goal of this effort is to provide the most understandable information possible Having the aim to allow its usage by to the users, and in this case the slates will play people with special needs, we offer specific the role of the educational medium, offering characteristics, like the magnifying glass and a rich content. the support of text to speech – narration.

A series of tutorials, presentations, exercises Benefits and tools are available to the users, so that The user may keep notes next to each point of they may get a fuller view on the possibilities the content that is viewed in the application, for free education that the i-bank store offers so that when his navigation ends, he may concerning modern subjects, as well as on the send the content that interests him (including usage of the electronic services of the Bank. A his notes) to his e-mail address. His personal special emphasis has been given to the ease details will remain confidential. Special care of use, so that the visitors that aren’t quite has been given so that no personal data gets familiarized with technology, may be instantly stored. able to use them. The new application, using the great The Solution advantages of mobility and directness, The National Bank of Greece collaborated with will allow the visitors of the i-bank store Microsoft for the creation of an application – regardless of the level of their digital

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published July 2011