THE Royal Bank of Scotland's Ibos system, launched just over two years

ago as a trans-European network, is poised to become global.

Ibos -- Inter-bank on-line system -- began in June 1991 as a

branch-to-branch link between the Royal Bank and their Spanish alliance

partner Banco Santander.

Last year, Ibos expanded into France and Portugal.

But Dr George Mathewson, the Royal's chief executive, has revealed a

dramatic expansion plan for the Ibos system which would include not only

other European countries but also America.

He said: ''We are talking to other banks about the possibility of

extending the Ibos network into Germany, Belgium, Austria and America.''

Ibos is not merely the head offices of the various member banks

forming a computer link but entails a branch-to-branch link of all the

member banks.

Already 2700 branches of the existing four member banks are linked in

this way and the numbers involved are set to rise dramatically.

Dr Mathewson said: ''We are now in negotations with banks in several

European countries to provide cross-border banking on a global scale.''

The system allows customers to check their bank balances while they

are out of the country or to pay such items as standing orders abroad

using the network.