GB00_erste lage_E - Erste Group

CORPORATE CENTRE
Erste-nettrading
Erste-nettrading (www.erste-nettrading.com), through the ecetra platform, enables customers to buy
and sell securities via the Internet. In addition, since December 2000, Erste Bank’s customers
have access through www.ecetra.com to finance-related information, such as reports of international
news agencies, price data, charts, company profiles and analyses as well as market
reports.
In total, about 3,000 financial instruments, including more than 2,300 shares, can be traded
around the clock on 18 exchanges world-wide. In initial public offerings and capital increases that
are underwritten by Erste Bank, investors are able to subscribe new shares online. Erste-nettrading
is designed particularly for customers who wish to invest for the longer term while benefiting
from professional advice. From 2001 all savings banks are also represented on the ecetra
platform. For self-directed customers, ecetra will offer intraday securities trading. The ecetra website
will be expanded by entertainment and interactivity functions.
In 2001 the platform is to be launched in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
Electronic banking for corporate customers
With a view especially to the euro, the electronic banking activities of Erste Bank focus on cashless
payments. In the form of its Erste-Telebanking and Erste-Multicash services, Erste Bank
offers not just domestic and international payments transactions, but also access to international
bank accounts. The growing trend towards buying merchandise and services over the Internet led
Erste Bank and its peer savings banks to develop “netpay”, an Internet payments system. Netpay’s
PIN and TAN safeguards offer a maximum of security to all netbanking customers paying
for goods bought via the Internet.
New Internet presence
In March 2000 Erste Bank and the savings banks launched a joint Internet presence at
www.sparkasse.at. This blue-chip web site for all things finance does justice to the need of Erste
Bank and the savings bank sector for a single, unified brand that stands for first-rate service
throughout the market.
64 Erste Bank 2000