ABN Amro is to open 100 new 'financial centres' this year in an effort to reposition the high street bank branch as an advisory location.
Featuring an open and modern design, the new centres will offer instant financial advice without an appointment, a product range geared to the needs of local markets and opening hours on Saturdays and late shopping evenings.
Introducing the new centres, Jan Peter Schmittmann, CEO of ABN Amro Netherlands, says: "The role of bank branches is changing very fast, from that of transaction-based branches to advanced advice centres. Our bank branches have already responded successfully to this trend in the past two years."
He says the new 'financial centres' will act as "lynchpins" in their market areas.
The investment recognises the higher value placed on personal service by bank customers.
Says Schmittmann: "Despite the fact that, on average, clients visit a bank branch only twice a year and are very satisfied with our services via the Internet and the call centres, the branches are the main driver of customer satisfaction."