The UK Federal Credit Union has joined the information superhighway with a new site on the World Wide Web.
Offering information about members services and applications for loans from the credit union, UKFCU has taken a new step toward customer service, bank officials said.
"We've had Internet access for under a month and we've already had three or four accounts just by people surfing the net," said Kathy Clark, vice president of marketing at UKFC.
The main purpose of the web-site is to offer customers 24-hour access to information about the credit union and attract new members. However, they also hope to take some of the things they do on paper and put it on the net -- reducing the clutter of paper.
All you need to access the service is a computer, modem and Internet access. You can access the UKFC home page directly through the UK home page or by typing: "http: //www.uky.edu/UKFC."
Right now the project is in phase one. The credit union is hoping to use its web page to attract new members and get information out about its services.
In the future they plan to offer services like on-line banking. Customers will be able to access account information, like checking and savings information, right from your computer.
They also are planning a student page in the future, which they hope will appeal to students. UKFC plans to make the student page more graphics-oriented and have topics that relate more to students -- such as student loans, car loans and other general information.
Phase two, planned for 1997, will offer customers many advanced features such as "Internet banking" which will allow members of the credit union to access their checking and savings account balance, submit loan applications and many other functions you would normally do over the phone or at the bank.
"We don't know if it will be through the Internet or a direct service," Clark said, "but we want to check out the security options."
UKFC is looking for suggestions on how they can improve its web page in the future. If you have any suggestions on how it can improve its service, there's a section when you can e-mail them.