22 December 2008

Surface technology will allow users to grab digital content with their hands and navigate information about Barclays’ Premier banking offering

Barclays has become the first bank to pilot Microsoft Surface technology in its new flagship branch at Piccadilly Circus in London.

Described as the first ‘brand concept’ bank branch in the UK, the branch will be officially launched at the end of January. It has 8,000 square feet of retail space over three floors, and makes extensive use of new technology and design.

The Surface technology will allow users to grab digital content with their hands and navigate information about Barclays’ Premier banking offering with simple gestures and touches. A major feature of the branch is Being:London, an interactive and evolving installation representing the interests, conversation and activities of people in London. A large video wall will graphically represent London using content from blogs and customer interests, while personal consoles will enable people to contribute to the installation and explore relevant information from the Time Out guide.

Outside of opening hours, the front of the branch will be transformed into the ‘Night Life’ screen, which picks up the image of passers using face recognition technology and cameras and displays moving silhouettes with thought bubbles containing random messages.

We have taken inspiration from retailers and developed a space that attracts and engages individuals while conveying what the Barclays brand represents

Mike Amato, Barclays As well as innovative technology, the Piccadilly branch has full banking functionality for all Personal, Premier, mortgage and local business customers with extensive customer space, dedicated specialist areas and numerous private rooms. It is the first Barclays branch to have totally open cashier counters with no glass screens, while an innovative curved queue rail softens the waiting area. Handheld PCs will allow floor-walking staff to help customers with queries without the need to wait, while a large self-service area includes a foreign ATM dispensing dollars and Euros, and deposit machines for cash, cheques and coins.

“This is the first time that a bank has opened a store such as this,” said Mike Amato, chief distribution and product officer for Barclays. “We have taken inspiration from retailers and developed a space that attracts and engages individuals while conveying what the Barclays brand represents. Our plan for Piccadilly has been to build not only a branch of the future, but also a branch befitting the iconic setting. We have embraced innovative technology and design which we expect to attract the interest of the Piccadilly community in an innovative and generous way and enable our customers to interact with us in the way that suits them and in surroundings that are comfortable and accessible for all.”

Barclays is undergoing an ongoing refurbishment of its entire 1,733 branch network in the UK after extensive staff and customer consultation.

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