Application of new technologies in the sector of banking services

Straipsnyje išnagrinėtos informacinių technologijų pritaikymo bankinių paslaugų sektoriuje galimybės ir jų įtaka, siekiant įgyti konkurencinį pranašumą. Analitiniu metodu išanalizuota kelių Lietuvos ir užsienio bankų veikla, jų kompiuterizavimo lygis bei juose taikomos nutolusios bankininkystės formos. Taip pat remtasi autorių darbais, rengiant dokumentus, reglamentuojančius konkrečių Lietuvos bankų veiklą.Market economy in Lithuania has virtually changed relationships between banks and customers. If the banks want to survive under competitive conditions they have to adjust themselves to the needs of customers. At present successful operation of the banks depends upon their ability to provide relevant products and services. In analyzing the Lithuanian banking market, banking operation and provided services constantly growing competition is observed, which is even more encouraged by rapidly developing modern technologies. New sale channels of modern financial products provide the banks with plenty of possibilities in providing services to customers and reducing costs of the banks. These possibilities are possible upon implementation of remote banking services. They include electronic, telebanking and Internet banking forms, cash machines, ATM's and POS terminals, payment cards and the like. More extensive analysis of Internet and electronic banking forms is presented further. In case of Internet banking an account holder executes banking operations in the software environment of Internet browser straight in Internet website of the bank. In such a case a customer docs not need to download or purchase any additional software from the bank. So a customer is not "tied" to the computer, which needs installation of the program provided by the bank. Customers can execute operations in their own accounts from any computer as well as any part of the world and at any time 24 hours per day. In case of electronic banking by applying remote customer service system, the customer can use its account with the bank and receive certain information by E-mail. The customer has to obtain special software by Internet or otherwise from the bank for execution of electronic banking operations. All operations are executed in the environment of this program, and the required ultimate information is submitted to the bank and received from the bank by Internet. Such software allows for providing such additional services as "electronic wallet" in the hard disc of the customer's computer. "Electronic wallet" makes it possible to see executed operations without logging onto the bank's data (about customers and their accounts). Special software ensures maintenance of additional security functions. However, the customer becomes "lied" lo the computer in the working place with special software installed. Internet and electronic banking for the customers of (he bank is a convenient, fast and cheap way to execute usual daily banking operations. Service provided by the bank to its customers through channels of Internet and electronic banking is really a good alternative. First, Internet and electronic banking transactions are the cheapest ones, and the increasing number of such transactions would allow the bank to increase its profitability ratio. The other important point is that without timely implementation of modem sale channels in the bank certain pan of competitiveness would be lost. Therefore, each bank should carefully consider the need for Internet and electronic banking systems and in case of necessity to integrate the same into information technologies of the bank