SALT LAKE CITY, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zions Bank today announced the launch of a Spanish language version of its Internet site, http://www.zionsbank.com/espanol. The Web site is targeted at the growing number of Latinos making financial transactions online. Nationally, 76 percent of bilingual Latinos use the Internet, according to a 2007 report by the Pew Hispanic Center. Other studies indicate Hispanic entry into the online marketplace is outpacing that of the general market.
More than 100 individual Web pages on the site allow consumers to compare a variety of personal and business banking products to select the best choices for their unique needs. The site allows users to locate branch offices, read about Spanish-speaking community bankers along the Wasatch Front, and learn financial tips. Also included are "Su Futuro Financiero" consumer education columns written by Zions Bank's Sylvia Haro.
Businesses can take advantage of information about treasury management services and international banking in Spanish. The pages also feature local Latino-owned businesses that have been highlighted on Zions Bank's "Negocios en Accion" weekly radio feature, also hosted by Haro.
"Zions Bank's new Spanish Web site helps reinforce our commitment to serving the Latino community, and its launch coincides with the bank's efforts to expand its services for Hispanics to even more branch locations this year," said Joe Reyna, multicultural retail region president.
Plans are underway to continue expanding the content and features available online in Spanish.
"Because more than half of Zions Bank's personal account holders are enrolled in Internet Banking, we know it is a convenient service that now can be used by our increasingly diverse customer base, including those who prefer making financial transactions in Spanish," said Carl Snyder, president of Zions Internet Banking.
Zions Internet Banking has garnered awards and recognitions for being at the forefront of the online banking industry. In 2007, Zions Internet Banking was named as a finalist in the in the 2007 Computerworld Honors Program and was recognized for its extraordinary use of information technology in the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate category. In addition, Zions Internet Banking received the 2007 Utah Best of State award for computer-related services.
A 2004 study by the consulting firm Speer & Associates ranked Zions Bank's Web site as the No. 1 bank Internet site among regional banks with assets between $15 billion and $25 billion. In the overall ranking of Western Hemisphere banks, Zions ranked No. 7 just after multi-regional and Canadian institutions. In 2004, financial services consulting firm Javelin Strategy & Research published a survey that ranked Zions Bank's online bill payment system (http://www.zionsbank.com/) No. 1 for its services and features. In addition, Javelin ranked Zions Internet Banking No. 3 for its identity fraud prevention, detection and resolution capabilities.
Zions Bank, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation , operates 138 full-service branches and nearly 200 ATMs throughout Utah and Idaho. In addition to a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions offers a comprehensive array of investment, mortgage, and insurance services, and has a network of loan origination offices for small businesses nationwide. The company is also a leader in providing electronic banking services, including odd-lot electronic bond trading. Founded in 1873, Zions has been serving the communities of the Intermountain West for 135 years. Additional information on Zions Bank is available at http://www.zionsbank.com/.
