Banks that act like stores: the notion pops up in Europe.

BANKS THAT LOOK MORE LIKE STORES than traditional financial institutions is a concept that is not unique to the United States. The idea has also gained a foothold in Europe.

The third largest bank in Denmark, Jyske Bank, which has 116 branches, has featured a "store" design for four years. The redesigned branches are intended to be pleasant, unpretentious places where customers can linger and learn something about financial products. As part of the redesign, the bank "packaged" 35 financial products and placed them in boxes on shelves--just like in a retail store.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

By picking up one of the financial packages and scanning them at the bank's "Trybar," the customer can look at a screen and see a video presentation about the product features.

The bank also has coffee bars and magazine libraries.

The new design and layout was intended to help differentiate the bank from its competitors, according to Naja Henriette Knorr, manager of the bank's design and shop section. The idea, she says, was "to take a big leap...