E*TRADE Center Offers Visitors a Financial Destination Combining Interactive
Financial Services With Educational Content and Access to E*TRADE Financial
Services Representatives
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- E*TRADE Group, Inc. (NYSE: ET)
today announced the opening of E*TRADE Center, a financial services
super-store designed to give consumers value added financial services and
educational content in a high-tech, high-touch experience. E*TRADE Center
marks the next phase of the Company's physical presence approach, which
includes its E*TRADE Zones concept intended to be rolled out in 20 new
locations in the coming year and its network of over 10,000 E*TRADE Bank ATMs.
The opening of E*TRADE Center is an integral component of the Company's
overall strategy to provide customers with brokerage, banking, insurance and
wealth management services to meet individual investors' needs.
Over 30,000 square feet, E*TRADE Center provides visitors with the ability
to make financial transactions in their E*TRADE Bank(1) and E*TRADE
Securities, Inc. brokerage accounts, participate in educational seminars,
interact with financial service associates, browse through financial books,
purchase items at the E*TRADE gift store and dine in the Mangia Cafe. The
Center also contains a full service production studio where E*TRADE broadcasts
E*TRADE On Air, featuring daily live audio and video financial news to keep
visitors apprised of current financial markets.
"E*TRADE Center is a milestone in our blended approach to financial
services, which combines an emphasis on electronic delivery with a physical
presence to provide customers with a high level of personalized service," said
Christos M. Cotsakos, chairman of the board and chief executive officer,
E*TRADE Group, Inc. "In the changing market environment, it's important for
investors to know they have both electronic and physical access to
information, products and services to meet their individual investment needs."
"As one of the world's leading financial services centers, New York is the
ideal location and branding opportunity to reach an estimated 17 million
customers per year," said Michael Sievert, chief sales and marketing officer,
E*TRADE Group, Inc. "Whether attending an educational seminar or consulting
with an E*TRADE representative, E*TRADE Center is a premier physical touch
point designed to deliver a richer E*TRADE experience to consumers."
E*TRADE Center has four levels of interactive technology including over
200 Presario 1400, Armada M300 and iPAQ desk top computers provided by Compaq
all with 20" LCD flat screen monitors. The bottom floor of E*TRADE Center
features a professional trading services area for E*TRADE's active investors
where they have the ability to place trading orders and conduct business.
E*TRADE Center's mezzanine level offers a forum for high net worth customers
to conduct financial transactions and receive personalized attention from
financial service associates. Educational Seminars will be offered to
consumers on the top level, adjacent to the E*TRADE gift shop, bookstore and
Mangia Cafe.
Also accessible within E*TRADE Center are three deposit-taking E*TRADE
Bank ATMs available to customers 24 hours a day. In addition, the Center has
partnered with Aether to provide wireless demonstration stations for investors
interested in learning about wireless financial services. As part of its
partnership with Lexus, visitors can also view the Lexus IS 300 on the top
level of E*TRADE Center, the grand prize awarded to each quarterly winner of
The E*TRADE Game.
E*TRADE Center is located at 540 Madison Avenue and is open to visitors
Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
