TPG Post and Rabobank introduce new way of receiving and paying bills
Consumers who use Rabobank’s Internet banking service will be able to
digitally receive, view and pay giros and bills as from 2005. TPG Post and
Rabobank signed a letter of intent for a strategic partnership in this field. This
initiative makes it for the first time possible that customers will be able to
receive and pay a bill from participating businesses and organisations fully
digitally.
By linking TPG Post’s digital letterbox to Rabobank’s Internet banking
package, a simple payment process can be offered. The consumer will receive
a digital giro slip through Rabobank’s Internet banking program setting out all
payment details and the desired payment date. The consumer will simply be
required to confirm the information.
The digital letterbox will provide Rabobank customer’s with greater payment
convenience. A giro or bill can be paid with a single click of the mouse,
making Internet banking simpler and faster. Consumers currently receive
paper bills by mail with a giro slip attached and must manually re-enter the
details printed on these slips in their Internet banking programs. From the
digital giro slip, users will be able to easily link through to the itemised bill
stored on the server of TPG Post. This provides consumers with a convenient
way of settling bills on time while allowing them full control over the payment.
For businesses and organisations the service will mean significant savings
compared to the costs of sending out paper bills and giro slips. They will also
benefit from a more efficient administrative process since fewer errors will be
made than when billing information is manually transferred. This form of
payment is particularly suited to regularly recurring giro slips and bills from
telephone and energy companies and the tax authorities. A company can also
use this means to send invoices for which the customer has agreed payment
using direct debit.
"Almost 2 million Rabobank customers use Internet banking. In order to serve
our customers the best we can, it is essential that we constantly capitalise on
new applications that offer them extra service and convenience’, says Jac
Verhaegen, member the Rabobank Board of Management. ‘TPG Post has
proven to be a reliable partner for the distribution of digital mail too. By
bundling our knowledge and experience with Internet banking with TPG, we
will be able to offer businesses and consumers even more convenience’.
Harry Koorstra, member of the TPG Board of Management and responsible for
the company’s postal activities: ‘This partnership between two market leaders
is an important step in TPG Post’s strategy. We are the most efficient postal
company in Europe and greatly value innovations that respond to the needs of
companies and consumers, so I am pleased that Rabobank is going to offer
the digital mailbox to its customers with our support’.
The joint concept will probably be offered to Rabobank customers mid 2005.
Until then, the partners will focus on aligning their ICT applications and jointly
work on attracting large companies who wish to present their mail digitally.
TPG Post introduced its own digital letterbox in 2001 under the name Privver,
allowing customers to select from which suppliers they wish to receive digital
mail. Surveys among consumers have shown that they would like to receive
digital mail from more suppliers and that they would like to see the integration
of the digital letterbox and Internet banking. 'At present, 135,000 consumers
can receive digital mail via www.privver.nl from thirteen senders, including
telecom operator KPN, insurance companies Univé and VGZ, and cable
provider Casema'.
TPG Post’s own digital letterbox, Privver, will continue to operate alongside
that of Rabobank. The electronic bill and giro solution will eventually be made
available to other banks so that consumers can choose which site they wish
to use for their digital mail.
With almost 2 million unique visitors per month, www.rabobank.nl is the
largest Internet banking site in Europe. More than 2.5 million Rabobank
customers currently use the Internet, telephone or mobile banking service.
Notes to the editor:
TPG N.V., with its two brands TNT and Royal TPG Post, is a global provider of
mail, express and logistics services. The group employs over 163,000 people
in 64 countries and serves over 200 countries. For 2003 the company reported
sales of €11.9 billion. TPG N.V. is publicly listed on the stock exchanges of
Amsterdam, New York, London and Frankfurt.
For further information, please contact (not for publication):
Daphne Andriesse, Press Officer TPG Media Relations
Tel: +31 20 500 6224
Mobile: +31 6 109 187 90
E-mail: [email protected]
Paul van den Berg, Perswoordvoering Rabobank Nederland
Tel: +31 30 216 2832
Mobile: +31 6 224 560 73
E-mail: [email protected]
