Banco Bradeso Opens New High-Tech Branch in Brazil

Brazil's Banco Bradesco offered up a new model of the "branch of the future" today by opening its Bradeso Next branch in Sao Paolo. The new branch will feature robot guides (inspired by R2D2), digital avatars and on-screen consultants that provide advice for customers and biometric interfaces, according to published reports.

Link 237, the R2D2-inspired robot guide, greets customers when they walk in and directs them around the branch. Biometric log-in stations provide customer authentication when needed. Banco Bradesco uses Fujitsu's palm-based biometric authentication system, and has gathered more than 10 million user profiles from its customers since introducing the system back in 2006.

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After authenticating through the system, customers in the branch can conduct trisections at cardless ATM's and receive personalized information from touch-controlled screens. That information can include personal interests, current financial situation and spending patterns based on the user's profile. This "Life Cycle" service can help with determining the right time to buy a home, for instance.

The Bradesco Next branch is centered around providing tailored financial advice to customers. A customer service room is partitioned into individual pods where clients interact with advisors through video conference or digital avatars.

Reports say that the Bradeso Next branch also features a "Mesa Lounge," where no business is done, but customers can sit, read a magazine, and order refreshments.

Jonathan Camhi has been an associate editor with Bank Systems & Technology since 2012. He previously worked as a freelance journalist in New York City covering politics, health and immigration, and has a master's degree from the City University of New York's Graduate School ... View Full Bio