Two Dutch Banks Leave Second Life

Dutch banker ING is shuttering its shop in Second Life. Last month Linden Lab banned all unofficial banks from Second Life, and while that would seem to make room for a sanctioned giant like ING, the company has decided to focus its resources elsewhere.  "After a year of pioneering, learning and innovating ING Retail Netherlands has decided to run down her activities in Second Life," wrote Gertjan Kaaij on the Our Virtual Holland Blog. "Most important reason is that we want to change our focus to the merging of ING bank and Postbank. Developments in virtual worlds do not address to that. At this moment we look at ING group level what our involvement in virtual worlds will be in the future." The company is looking at how to transfer assets and islands over to partners and community members, but plans on concluding its activity in Second Life by March 1. MindBlizzard is reporting that ABN Amro is taking off as well and following suit with Wells Fargo by opening a site in ActiveWorlds.

Comments

[Mistermr]

why are they even in SL? they should be focusing on creating a VW within their own webpage: new accounts, customer service with
a 3d interface.

Sl has become the red light district: its focus is on red light entertainment.
The Key word is entertainment.

It is NOt entertaining to go into a bank,
but you do want to feel secure and well
served, and a 3d layout is much easier
to walk around in
than
a 2d page with a mile long list of services,
in text, on the side.

lets focus on clear light 3d.