OREANDA-NEWS. August 07, 2012. The international finance magazine Global Finance names Swedbank’s Personal Internet Banking facility as the best one in Latvia for a third consecutive year. The winners were selected by a world-class judging panel who assessed the possibilities customers have and the level of service, reported the press-centre of Swedbank.

This is also an appreciation for Swedbank customers who are increasingly active in using remote banking services.

“More and more Swedbank customers appreciate and make use of the advantages of remote banking services. Today, there are already 515 000 people in Latvia who use Swedbank Internet Banking on day-to-day basis; last year in total it was visited 35 million times. The award from Global Finance is also a recognition for our customers who are knowledgeable and active users of online opportunities. We regularly add to what customers can do on our Internet Banking site and will continue to do so,” says Girts Berzins, the Head of Retail Banking and Board Member at Swedbank Latvia.

Internet Banking clients save their time and are environmentally friendly

Last year Swedbank customers had 2,5 million bills paid automatically through Internet Banking, thereby saving 80 000 hours of their time. The 47.7 million payments made electronically by Swedbank customers last year equals nearly 6000 saved trees that otherwise would have been necessary if those payments had to be printed on paper.

About the assessment by Global Finance

The winners were selected by Global Finance based on the following criteria: strength of strategy for attracting and servicing online customers, success in getting clients to use web offerings, growth of online customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from Internet initiatives, and web site design and functionality In Estonia, too, this year Swedbank’s Personal Internet Banking facility has been named as the best one for a third consecutive year.

With readers in 163 countries, Global Finance is a leading magazine about finances in the world. This is the 13th year Global Finance has named the World’s Best Internet Banks, including in Central and East Europe.