Dubai: Is it possible now to open a bank account — in just four minutes flat? And that, too, without leaving your home? Quick answer: Yes. This greatly simplified process will be the “new normal”. Picture this in your mind: a bank you never have to visit, queues you never have to wait in, and paperwork that’s no longer necessary. The world has changed, and people know it. This trend is accelerating. Given the speed and convenience of social media, people now expect that same experience with their banks — to transact in ways akin to a WhatsApp chat. “The movement to, and now emphasis on, digital banking was already happening prior to the pandemic,” said Abdul Rahman Jaroudi, a UAE banker, told Gulf News.