Standard Bank launches Business Online

Standard Bank has become the first South African bank to launch a comprehensive business service that enables customers to bank, trade and purchase online.

Known as Standard Bank Business Online, this initiative strengthens Standard Bank’s position as market leader in the provision of online business services. It is tailored for businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to large corporates.

Standard Bank’s range of online business services, from traditional banking to financial markets trading and electronic purchasing, are housed under the Business Online banner. All online transactions are conducted in a secure environment.

Says Magnus Taljaard, Director of Electronic Commerce at Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank: "Business Online is an important milestone in our endeavour to provide our business clients with anytime, anywhere interaction, making it easier for them to access our broad range of online business services."

Business Online is live and offers:

• Account management
• Payments and collections
• International banking services
• Foreign exchange trading
• Equities trading
• Interactive toolkits for interest rate and equity derivatives
• Electronic purchasing

"During the first half of next year we will be adding custody management, trade finance, treasury portfolio management services and business travel," says Taljaard.

Business Online can be accessed from Standard Bank’s web page:www.standardbank.co.za

Business Online provides business clients with an integrated window to all the online business services offered by Standard Bank. These services range from traditional banking to financial trading and electronic purchasing.

Domestic banking provides a range of domestic business banking services and financial information.

International banking is a seamless and paperless processing system for international cash management.

FX trading provides a comprehensive and efficient foreign exchange dealing service.

Electronic purchasing is available through thetradestandard, which offers a simple, low-cost way of streamlining a business' procurement processes and reducing procurement costs. It allows customers to do everything online, including sourcing, ordering, approval, invoicing and online payment.

Supplier services is targeted at suppliers who specialise in goods and services that form part of a company's indirect spend (non-production related goods and services), and who have national fulfilment capabilities.

Share trading provides an informative, economical and secure environment for trading on the stock market. Features include live share prices and past performances, market information, research reports, economic/business news, charts, and warrants and company information.

Warrants is a site for warrant traders with educational information as well as trading tips and insights into the South African warrant market.

Interest rate products is an interactive site with market information and research on a range of interest rate products. The site also offers live data and calculators for swaps, fras, caps and floors, bonds and interest rate conversions.