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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Adrian Hearn

Ant and Dec morph into 80s video game characters for 'world's first virtual bank'

Ant and Dec have been transformed into 1980s video game characters in their latest attempt to run a bank.

The much-loved TV duo are two of the most successful stars seen on screen over the past 20 years.

But their efforts at the 'Bank of Antandec', their spoof branch of Santander, have been anything but a triumph after the pair faced a catalogue of issues.

Now, as they look to take digital banking to the next stage, the pair have created the world's first ever virtual bank where customers put on a headset, create their character, log in and carry out their banking from there.

However, instead of using high-tech augmented reality software, the graphics are more 1980s in style.

The pair launched the spoof branch of Santander earlier this year (SWNS)

Ant said: "We strive to be there for our customers and do our utmost to make their dreams a reality. A virtual reality."

Dec said: "Face-to-Face is a thing of the past, it's all about pixel-to-pixel."

The stars will make their latest appearance for the bank in an advert which airs this Saturday.

But ahead of the broadcast, an extended version has been released showcasing their 'virtual venture'.

Ant and Dec's latest foray into finance comes as Santander launches its new 'My Money Manager' feature on its mobile banking app.

The taster video has been teased ahead of a joke ad which airs on Saturday (SWNS)
Santander UK announced a partnership with the pair to act as brand ambassadors for the bank last year (SWNS)

Dan Sherwood, director of marketing at Santander, said: "Ant and Dec return to our screens in their now familiar roles as CEO's of the Bank of Antandec, this time taking on a new challenge, a digital one.

"Not only has their strategy changed, but so have they and we get to see them for the very first time as avatars in the world's first ever virtual bank."

The cheeky Geordies were forced to address accusations of plagiarism after launching the venture earlier this year.

They spoke of the similarities of their logo to that of Santander - for whom they are brand ambassadors - in a hilarious spoof video, to allay concerns about legal issues.

They claimed their logo features a baguette, rather than a flame, saying that until recently they had never heard of the “so-called bank” in question.

 
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