There are many institutes such as telephone companies, internet service providers, electricity companies, Water Supply Board, insurance companies and local government authorities who want to collect revenue from their customers and are looking for operational space, post offices may fill this vacuum, the report said. Fernando recalled the many IT related firsts of Union Bank, such as the first bank to offer customers the flexibility to access their accounts from any branch, the first to offer a smart card with which an account could be accessed from anywhere in the world, the first to introduce the convenience of system generated deposit slips, the first to have a 24 hour phone banking service, the first to link up with the internet via own web server, the first to clear cheques drawn on all branches in one day, the first to absorb outstation cheque commissions payable on third party cheques, the first to have e-mail banking, the first to have internet banking and the first in Asia to be awarded the ISO 9002 Quality Certification for the full range of commercial banking operations. He also spoke of the bank’s continuing innovations, amongst which is a unique gold pawning/safe-keeping product which enables one to leave one’s gold in safety with the Bank and have its value credited to an account from which such money could be drawn from any Cirrus ATM anywhere in the world, when needed. Seylan Bank has made considerable investments in information technology to further develop "Fast Cash," the fastest growing international Money Transfer Service which expanded its reach to additional countries enabling Sri Lankans living abroad to conveniently remit funds to their loved once back home, increasing total inward remittances and thus contributing to the economy. This "unique" event was held for the second successful time in Sri Lanka, was not only a coming together of the nation’s best in the life insurance industry, but was also considered to be a unique learning experience that would bring about the exchange of ideas as well as being a novel concept that would promote better understanding within the industry, which enabled those concerned to serve the nation better. About 150 senior bankers from award-winning banks in 23 countries across the Asia Pacific, the Gulf region and Central Asia attended the glittering event, a first class celebration of the region’s best retail bankers that recognises their efforts in bringing superior products and services to their customers. read more