ICICI to launch interactive internet banking

Private sector ICICI Bank plans to launch a new interactive internet banking concept to give customers the touch and feel of a real branch, a top company executive said today.

"The power of the internet has not been unleashed completely. Internet banking has been a passive transaction tool. We are planning to launch a new concept which would make internet banking more interactive for customers," ICICI Bank Executive Director V Vaidyanathan told reporters on the sidelines of a CII summit on retail here.

The concept would have a virtual teller, branch manager and receptionist, among others, which would give customers a touch and feel of a real branch with the help of navigational tools, he said.

The country's largest private sector lender has not yet chosen a name for the new initiative, but it would be launched by the year-end, Vaidyanathan said.

ICICI Bank is also running a campaign asking customers to 'Just Step In', which would help it deal with customers in a better way, he said.

"Through Just Step In, we are asking customers to walk into the bank. This concept will help us to deal with them better."

The lender was expecting an increase in footfalls with this concept, he added.