Export Bank taps wireless technology

The Export and Industry Bank (EIB) has tied up with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) for its GPRS-based wireless connectivity for ATMs, an alternative to the traditional leased lines as a means of communications.

During PLDT’s launch of its SWUP held recently, EIB pioneered the first live banking service of this wireless application, which uses GPRS technology.

SWUP, or Shops.work Unplugged, allows businesses to link up their company branches real time while providing the advantage of easy deployment, reliable connectivity and access, speed, convenience and reduced cost.

EIB chief information officer Jose Maria Valdes said that the bank will participate in pilot installations of PLDT’s leading edge wireless connectivity for automated teller machines (ATMs) that utilizes GPRS-EDGE mobile broadband technology.

"This marks an important milestone in the banking industry and wireless communications and provides distinct advantages for EIB customers in diverse locations in a way that would overcome our inherently limited geographic status as an archipelago," Valdes said.

It had also deployed an integrated banking solution, referred to as ICBS (International Comprehensive Banking System), designed to optimize the bank’s continuing drive to be efficient, cost-effective and customer-focused.

It utilizes Alliance Branch Teller, a front-end solution that allows the delivery of banking services across traditional branches, sub-branches, cash outlets and call centers. The new branch tellering system enhances customer service even if communication links to the ICBS central customer database are interrupted.

EIB business centers can continue normal service to customers in case of interruption or while offline, with the system storing the transactions locally. When the communications link is restored, the branch tellering system automatically forwards the offline transactions to update customer records in ICBS.