Customers of another private bank now have access to the public service portal Latvija.lv via their internet banking facilities, it was announced on 14 February 2012. eServices are now available to customers of five banks, as well as to Mobile-ID users and through the electronic signature issued by Latvian Post.

The Latvija.lv portal is the largest and most convenient site on the Internet for information and eServices of Latvian state institutions and local governments. Currently it has 44 eServices, as well as contact data for more than 1940 services provided by various government and local authorities. It is maintained and developed by the State Regional Development Agency (SRDA).

Vita Narņicka, SRDA Deputy Director of eGovernment affairs, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with the commercial sector, and said that it was a great opportunity for bank customers to "receive a variety of electronic certificates, register their place of residence online and keep track of information that is stored about them in various public records through the Latvija.lv portal. eServices enable substantial savings in both time and financial resources, so we hope that more and more people will use the advantages provided by the portal Latvija.lv. This is also shown by the demand for services increasing by 107 % in 2011."

Jana Strogonova, Head of Retail at the bank, said that for their customers, this opportunity "means more convenient and more efficient organisation of their routine, because it provides access to the Road Traffic Safety Department (CCSD, in Latvian), the State Revenue Service (VID, in Latvian), State Land Service and other agencies."

Further information:

• Original news article - State Regional Development Agency (in Latvian)
• www.latvija.lv portal
• Related ePractice news article - LV: Large increase in visitors to www.latvija.lv during E-Skills Week
• Related ePractice news article - LV: Access to public electronic services via Mobile-ID solution
• Background information - ePractice eGovernment Factsheet for Latvia