E-banking not an option, but a necessity: Head of IT at Credins Bank
E-banking is gaining an increasing importance in relations of the banking system with the public in Albania.
Bank of Albania statistics show that last year the number of accounts connected to the Internet increased by 37%.
According to the BoA, there are about 209 thousand accounts that are accessible via the Internet, a number that represents about 6% of the total accounts in the Albanian banking system.
In recent years, banks have reformed their approach, making the service more easily accessible, while increasing flexibility and reducing costs for users.
Valbona Dhjaku, director of the Information Technology Department at Credins Bank, stated for Scan TV that e-banking is not a choice but a necessity for banks.
“The bank must be absolutely aware that e-banking is no longer simply an option that we offer this service, this is not a novelty anymore. E-banking must be sufficiently competitive with services that other banks offer. The benefits of e-banking are not always straightforward because online-banking platforms are costly. Credins Bank has invested heavily in e-banking, both in software and hardware.”
Mrs. Dhjaku said that Credins Bank has now approximately 58 thousand accounts linked with the Internet and, especially after 2013, the number of users has grown fast.
Experts believe that the expansion of internet use in the Albanian society, but also the strengthening of financial literacy, are the foundation for massive use of this service in the future.
Especially younger generations, brought up in the internet era, will view e-banking as a necessary relationship with the bank.
One of the reasons that make individuals reluctant to use e-banking services is a concern for safety.
Mrs. Dhjaku said that the platforms are very safe and the weakest link is the user’s experience.
According to her, if the clients observe of some basic rules, e-banking is completely safe.
Of the 16 banks operating in Albania, 12 of them already offer e-banking services, while according to the world trends, there is no doubt that in the future this service will be a substantial part of the activity of each bank in the country.
The Albanian banking system is expected to invest nearly 20 million euros in technology this year and a large part of this investment linked precisely with e-banking infrastructure.
In the future, the banking industry will most likely reduce its physical presence, while getting an increasing virtual dimension, where a wide range of products and services will be available through electronic means.
SCAN
*Material i përgatitur nga portali SCAN. Ripublikimi mund të bëhet vetëm kundrejt citimit të autorësisë dhe burimit origjinal.