Tech bytes: Huntington's Internet Site Offers Retirement Planning

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Huntington Bancshares has amended its Internet site to include a retirement planning component.

The newest segment of Huntington's on-line site features general information on retirement as well as tips selecting from among various investment options.

The bank launched its retirement planning unit in late September, to give customers financial advice before or during retirement via the telephone. Huntington also offers a 32-page guide on estimating financial needs for retirement.

Although most on-line efforts have focused mainly on basic checking account management, this clearly points up the expanding range of services that banks intend to deliver through the Internet.

Bank officials say that providing retirement planning services by computer gives customers a chance to better evaluate their financial needs. For example, the site allows customers to compute such variables as the rates of return on investments before and after retirement.

"This allows customers to understand the staggering differences that conservative versus aggressive investments can make on retirement funds," said Paula Jurcenko, an assistant vice president and product development manager for Huntington's Retirement Bank. -Karen Epper and Brian Tracey

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