Krung Thai Bank Deploys Cisco Unified MeetingPlace to Improve Collaboration and Enhance Customer Service

Phase I Includes 250 Installation Sites, Will Expand to Other Branches Nationwide


BANGKOK, THAILAND--(Marketwire - December 1, 2009) -  Krung Thai Bank (KTB) has deployed a video-based collaboration solution from Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) at its head offices and plans to expand the solution to all its branch offices nationwide. Initially, KTB will use the solution to reduce travel between offices before extending its use to customers.

The solution that KTB has deployed is Cisco® Unified MeetingPlace®, which integrates audio, video and Web conferencing capabilities. As an integral component of Cisco Unified Communications, Cisco Unified MeetingPlace allows KTB to incorporate multiparty discussions and application sharing into a broad range of communication scenarios.

Dr. Anuchit Anuchitanukul, senior executive vice president, managing director, Products and Market Management Group, Krung Thai Bank PCL, said: "The deployment of Cisco Unified MeetingPlace not only reflects our commitment to leveraging IT innovations to improve our services, but also represents our effort to enhance business efficiency. We want to provide fast, convenient and reliable banking services, and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace will enable our employees to deliver higher-than-expected services such as faster credit approval."

Dr. Tatchapol Poshyanonoda, managing director, Cisco Thailand, said: "This is a remarkable success for Cisco not only because of the scale of the deployment, covering 250 sites in the first phase alone, but also because of KTB's position as one of the leading banks in Thailand. This also validates Cisco's commitment to help customers such as KTB transform their business processes."

KTB expects to see an immediate return on investment from the reduction of employee travel within the country for staff training and meetings. The other conferencing solutions that KTB evaluated were not able to deliver the full range of rich media and highly secure communications that Cisco Unified MeetingPlace was able to provide.

In the past KTB utilized videoconferencing services from a service provider, which were expensive and time-consuming to set up. KTB's network at that time was unable to accommodate advanced video-based communications. The bank has since upgraded its network infrastructure in order to deliver innovative services to customers and employees. KTB also plans to extend the use of Cisco Unified MeetingPlace to provide online expert services, enabling customers at each branch to directly consult product experts at the headquarters.

"KTB plans to deliver training to our employees, equipping them with updated knowledge about high-growth markets, particularly in the small and medium-sized business segment. Furthermore, we have to accelerate the credit approval process to avoid losing potential customers to competitors. With Cisco Unified MeetingPlace, we will be able to significantly expand our business. In addition, our employees will better understand specific products and special loans, while branch employees will be able to ask for help from experts at the head offices so that they can provide instant service to customers," added Dr. Anuchit Anuchitanukul.

About Krung Thai Bank PCL
 
As a leading financial institution in Thailand, Krung Thai Bank intends to be a "Convenience Bank" by providing a complete range of innovative services that rapidly and appropriately respond to customer requirements in any segments.

About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco products are supplied in Thailand by Cisco Systems International, BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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Contact Information:

For more information, please contact:
Supanit Arayametee
Cisco Systems (Thailand) Ltd.
Tel: 0 2263 7000
Fax: 0 2253 8440
Email:sarayame@cisco.com

Maythavee Chalermtanasak
PC & Associates Consulting Co., Ltd.
Tel: 0 2971 3711
Fax: 0-2521 9030
Email:maythavee@pc-a.co.th

This is a remarkable success for Cisco not only because of the scale of the deployment, covering 250 sites in the first phase alone, but also because of KTB's position as one of the leading banks in Thailand.