Citibank e-Business, a division of Citigroup, and Maersk Sealand announced the successful launch of CitiConnectSM Web-enabled financial services, an Internet-based B2B payment gateway that allows Maersk Sealand's customers to make payments online via Maersk's website. Citibank is the first bank in Hong Kong to offer this full-service B2B Internet payment gateway and Maersk Sealand the first company to take advantage of this capability.
CitiConnectSM is an integrated financial services solution that allows e-marketplace participants to initiate settlement instructions for goods and services via the Internet, automatically at the time of purchase. Maersk Sealand's customers who register for this service can pay, approve, and enquire about payment transactions anytime, online, by logging into Maersk Sealand's website www.maersksealand.com/hongkong.
Using CitiConnectSM Web-enabled financial services as their online payment gateway allows Maersk Sealand to offer a fully integrated booking-to-payment Internet-based process. Maersk Sealand customers can conveniently make payments online, anytime in the security of their own offices, regardless of the bank in which they hold their account. "We expect our customers to save substantial time and administrative expenses by taking advantage of this e-payment solution. They will no longer have to write cheques and present them within office hours in exchange for Bills of Lading," said Claus Hemmingsen, Managing Director of Maersk Hong Kong Limited.
"Citibank is pleased to team up with Maersk Sealand to provide a complete online transaction service for end-customers," said Caroline Wong, Head of Citibank e-Business in Hong Kong. "We are proud of our ability to offer innovative Web-based cash management solutions that streamline processes and improve cycle time for our clients," added Wong. Both Citibank and Maersk Sealand plan to extend the availability of CitiConnectSM Web-enabled financial services to Maersk Sealand's customers in the Asia Pacific region.
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