OREANDA-NEWS. June 5, 2012. Swedbank’s branch on Draugiem.lv, which is the first virtual bank branch on a social networking site in Europe, was presented to the media, most popular bloggers and experts. At this branch, any registered user of Draugiem.lv will have fast, convenient and safe access to online advice about their finances from Swedbank’s experts.

Swedbank’s virtual branch will be opened for business with customers on Friday, 1 June.

According to Draugiem.lv Branch Manager Inese Grike-Ukstina, the new staff had a special training course in order to offer online services at a high level, and this had to be of the same quality as a face-to-face contact.

“We are delighted that the successfully started cooperation with Draugiem.lv has enabled us to open a bank branch on a social networking site. The digital age not only encourages development of new modes of communication, but also emergence of new professions which combine remote communication and service delivery with the human factor. Thus, a new profession has emerged by setting up a virtual branch – social media based financial consultant”, says Girts Berzins, the Head of Retail Banking and Board Member at Swedbank Latvia.

Swedbank’s page on Draugiem.lv boasts the highest number of followers among corporate profiles – 160 323 which is much more than the number of residents in Latvia’s second most populated city of Daugavpils. Hence, Swedbank, changing with the times, goes where its clients are and offers the handling of customers’ financial matters also in the digital environment.

“Draugiem.lv with 1.2 million followers is the largest “city” in Latvia. Swedbank branches are situated in all key places in Latvia, therefore serving customers where they spend time is only a logical step. Swedbank sets a great example to every company of how to properly make use of an integral part of modern day-to-day life – the social media: being friends and talking with their existing and potential customer in their usual environment and language. We hope that Swedbank’s example will serve as an incentive for other companies to serve their customers the way the customers want it not the company,” says Janis Palkavnieks, spokesman for Draugiem.lv

At the new branch on Draugiem.lv, Swedbank customers will have access to online consultations about daily banking, savings, loans, insurance and other financial matters.