The US banking group is expanding its "smart banking" branches in Indonesia.

The vast Asian archipagelo of Indonesia presents challenges to bankers trying to reach clients in a cost-efficient way – hence the crucial importance of technology in giving relationship managers the tools to cover large terrain.

Citigroup, the bank that upped the ante with its “In View” mobile platform for its ultra high net worth private bank clients last year, has also sought to push tech advance for clients down the wealth spectrum in Indonesia. The bank has unveiled three of its new “smart banking” branches in Jakarta. The centres are located in Kelapa Gading, Prince Center Building and in APOL Building Abdul Muis, central Jakarta. The branches are sited in business, trade and affluent residential areas.

The US bank has more than 150 smart banking branches in Asia out of a total of around 500 branches and operates consumer banking in more than 100 Asian cities. It plans to change more conventional branches to smart banking branches and open new such facilities in the region.

The smart banking branches drove about half of Citi’s $14 billion of revenues last year, the bank said in a statement yesterday.

Each branch has what the bank says is the latest flat screen technology and an “interactive media wall” to show product information and a service menu; “instant account opening”, and video chat facilities for clients to communicate with the bank’s officers in remote locations.