Edmond, OK (PRWEB) September 12, 2006

“My son forged and cashed checks on my account for months before I discovered it – who’s liable for this, me or the bank?” “Help – the bank refused to cash checks made out to my business the other day!” “Can the bank force us to get title insurance for our mortgage?” “Is it smart to use credit cards while traveling abroad?” When satisfactory answers to questions like these aren’t forthcoming from one’s own bank, consumers and business owners now have a valuable free resource: BankingQuestions.com (www.bankingquestions.com), the first consumer information site on banking launched by banking experts who are not affiliated with any bank.

“There isn’t an adult in the U.S. who hasn’t experienced a problem with a financial institution at one time or another,” says Mary Beth Guard, who with Carin Eisenhauer and Michele Petry comprise the Glia Group, which launched the new site in partnership with the Bankers Information Network. “When our long-established site for professionals in the banking industry, BankersOnline.com (www.bankersonline.com), began overflowing with questions from bank customers who didn’t know where else to turn, we realized it was time to create a consumer information site on banking.”

BankingQuestions.com offers Q&A articles, podcasts, videocasts and Powerpoint presentations on 20 categories of banking issues, from checking accounts to identity theft. Site visitors can submit a question to “Ask a Banker” or ask their question in a discussion forum moderated by seven bankers working at banks from New York State to California as well as by the banking experts on the staff of BankingQuestions.com. A blog on news in the banking industry of interest to consumers, extensive resource links and banking-related cartoons round out the offerings.

“We have the expertise without the affiliation,” notes Guard. “This lets us be honest and let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes our questioners have rights vis-à-vis the bank, and sometimes they are just stuck.” Guard adds that since most bank policies are shaped by either federal laws or by laws like the Uniform Commercial Code that have been adopted by most states, it’s possible for BankingQuestions.com to offer advice and answers that are valid for most consumers in the U.S.

Consumers and business owners wondering how to deal with their bank or a banking problem or question can visit BankingQuestions.com (www.bankingquestions.com) 24 hours a day to look for or ask for answers.

For: BankingQuestions.com, 2541 Flint Ridge Road, Edmond, OK 73003.

Contact: Mary Beth Guard, 888-229-8872, extension 88

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Marking its entry into the Western European marketplace, software developer BankServ International heralded an agreement that allows STAR-ACHATS of Paris to apportion its enclosing systems throughout France and the carrying region. Currently played in more than 50 countries, BankServ’s software is plied by hundreds of banks to finalise cross-border transactions over the internationalist SWIFT Network

STAR-ACHATS will hook BankServ’s hot TurboSwift system in an area that comprises the fourth-largest concentration of SWIFTNet users in the world. TurboSwift has been countenanced by many diminutive and mid-sized banks as an alternative to subscribing an egg-filled SWIFT membership or thinking larger money-center banks to process global transactions on their behalf

The past introduction of several unprecedented tipping standards in Europe including SEPA, TARGET2 and SwiftNet Phase 2 has also staled an earthshaking number of financial institutions appreciate regenerating their back-office systems, says Thierry Kolton, founder of STAR-ACHATS. Because BankServ’s products have already been informed to fulfil those standards, banks may gain them a prepossessing option to swear a fast transition, he predicts

“French banks are under an expanding amount of pressure to readjust to standards like SEPA and TARGET2 there are a lot of banks that will call for to realise a raise,” Kolton told. “Since BankServ can extend that compatibility, we hope banks in and around France will be fit to benefit from our entry into the market.”

The same software has enjoyed popularity in the United Kingdom and Eastern European financial markets, where BankServ has installed it in over 100 banks since its introduction. Additionally, since a French-language version of TurboSwift already menaced for Canadian banks, France was a discursive choice for expansion, says Mary Ellen Putnam, who heads BankServ’s internationalist division.

“With the success that we’ve had in the surrounding areas, we’re very excited about the potential that exists for us in France and Western Europe,” Putnam said. “We pass judgment we’re drawing a product to market at a time when banks will really have an use for it.”

In addition to automating the data-entry and routing functions for international payment messages, BankServ’s system also has other features, such as the ability to let remote bank branches initiate their own payments through a central server. Related products can snub abroad exchange or transfer files between back-office looking systems that have compatibility issues

About STAR-ACHATS:
STAR-ACHATS has been introducing new Supply-Chain Software solutions for the Financial and Procurement Markets in France and Southern Europe since 2003. The STAR-ACHATS team includes 20-year veterans from Software Vendors with a made track record scalping to the Top 100 French Corporations and Banks.

About BankServ:
Since 1996, BankServ has developed electronic payments technology for banks around the world, including systems for Fedwire, SWIFT, online payments and Check 21. More information about privately held BankServ can be found at www.bankserv.com

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Related Banks Press Releases

The Texas Bankers Association and its subsidiary, TBA Services Company Inc., denote the endorsement of Austin, Texas-based Q2 Software, Inc. Q2 Software provides electronic swearing software and services, handing over leading-edge technology and incomparable customer service to Community Financial Institutions

A privately-owned and bank-owned technology company, Q2 was set up in 2004 by a group of experienced (3rd generation) technologists involved in distributing some of the first online swearing and voice recognition applications dating back to the aboriginal 90′s. With 15 + years of lessons larned, Q2 delimited the electronic banking channel by successfully establishing online banking, Mobile Banking and Voice Banking on a single platform

“The comprehensive process of picking out an electronic swearing provider to urge to our member banks,” says TBASCO Executive Vice President Lenelle Freeman, “was made simpler by Q2′s superior track record. Q2 had been actively trading its electronic banking platform for only four years and has accomplished big success and market acceptance. In 2008 Q2 traded software to over 60 fresh financial institutions, finished 30 core interfaces and settled 90% of all support tickets/requests within 24 hours. It was no surprise that their bank references were all excellent. Their online, voice and airborne banking applications all shack on a single platform. It was superficial to us how this can salvage our member banks money and streamline operations.”

Focused on driving innovative technology, Q2′s Electronic Banking operates on a Microsoft.Net®established platform that offers elastic deployment options for Internet Banking, Mobile Banking and Voice swearing applications.

Unique “on demand” feature access within a single application alter Q2′s financial institutions to configure products and services to meet the incomparable requirements of both retail and commercialised swearing. Additionally, an opened “Vendor Integration Framework” allows for the integration of acute third party customer-facing applications for an accomplished electronic banking experience. Q2′s product development strategy is to authorise our customers to vie with the domestic banks by rendering a platform that will let for fast feature enhancements as market conditions change.

Hank Seale, CEO and founder of Q2 Software said, “Our objective is to redefine electronic banking and become the preeminent provider of innovative banking software solutions to Community Financial Institutions and enable them to compete with National Banks using state of the art banking technology while driving down costs.”

About Q2 Software
Q2 Software, Inc. a CBG Holdings Company enables financial institutions with electronic banking software and services. To learn more about Q2 Software and it’s swearing technology visit www.Q2software.com or contact Michelle Westling.

About TBA
Serving Texas bankers since 1885, TBA is the largest and oldest state bankers association in the nation. The TBA Services Company, Inc., cognized as TBASCO, is a wholly had subsidiary of TBA. TBASCO’s mission is to render access to quality products and services to TBA member banks that will heighten the members’ aggressive standing up.

A TBASCO endorsement means completion of a lengthy investigative process by an eight-member board of directors, comprised of seven Texas bankers and the TBA president. TBASCO’s reputation for integrity and thorough due diligence means bankers can trust and value the products and services awarded endorsement status. www.texasbankers.com

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Related Banks Press Releases

Lewiston, Maine (Vocus) August 1, 2009

For Northeast Bank customers the world is their home now with the launch of mobile banking for personal banking customers, including a new application for iPhone® users. Customers can safely access their accounts, transfer funds, and search for branches or ATMs utilizing their web-enabled cell phones.

“The research I’m seeing indicates that over 35% of households will be using mobile banking in some fashion by 2010. Our goal is to stay ahead of this trend and make bound we have the tools our customers necessitate to do their swearing on the go,” stated Chris Delamater, Vice President and Marketing Director at Northeast Bank. “Northeast has always been innovative, and we’re arrogant to be one of the first community banks in Maine with an iPhone app.”

Northeast Bank’s mobile banking provides full service for its personal banking customers through its robust online banking system. Customers necessitate to be subscribed up for Northeast Online, and once subscribed up, airborne swearing is a loose service proffered to those customers. Aside from the characteristic options like checking up on balances and transferring funds, customers with mobile banking can also sign up for alerts and have a text message automatically sent out to them when their balance falls below a sure amount, or when their paycheck is absolute streamlined. Mobile Banking also has appended aggregate layers of authentication, in an effort to insure customer transactions are made safety and securely.

To learn more about Northeast Bank’s mobile banking service and the new iPhone app, visit www.northeastbank.com/mobilebanking for afloat details

About Northeast Bank
Northeast Bank, a leader in delivering one-stop shopping for financial services, is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN). The Company has approximately $ 607 million in assets as of March 31, 2009 and derives its income from a combination of conventional swearing services and nonconventional financial products and services including insurance and investments; running eleven conventional bank branches, fourteen insurance offices and three investment centers that serve seven counties in Maine and two in New Hampshire. Information regarding Northeast Bank can be happened on its website at www.northeastbank.com or by getting through 1-800-284-5989

Fan NEB on Facebook Join the NEB group on LinkedIn Follow NEB on Twitter: @northeast_bank Friend NEB on MySpace Check out the NEB YouTube Channel

Contact:
Chris Delamater, Director of Marketing
207-786-3245 ext. 3548

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Related Banks Press Releases

Miami, FL (PRWEB) September 30, 2010

Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) will be hosting the FELABAN XXV Conference on Bank Security: CELAES 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami from September 29 – October 1. Enterprise Risk Management, leading consultants in Internet and banking security, will be one of the sponsors of the event and will provide expert insights in a panel discussion on social media threats and security issues.

Those in attendance of the conference on Internet and banking security will review:

         How and Why Physical Security is important in banks
         Operational and IT Security Consultants on Ways to Protect Customers
         IT Security Professionals Review Fraud as a Security Risk
         Business Continuity/Disaster Preparedness
         Preventing Organized Crime

“Banks continue to face challenges while preventing crime and fraud in the branches and online. This event is set to uncover the latest in Internet banking security being explained by top IT security professionals,” said Silka Gonzalez, President of Enterprise Risk Management. “Our company will clearly outline the risks and threats associated with social media and explain how these should be dealt with specifically in corporate environments.”

About Enterprise Risk Management:

Enterprise Risk Management is a risk management firm with its headquarters in Miami, Florida and a branch in India. They are one of the leading providers of IT Security, Risk Management, IT Audit, Computer Forensics, Regulatory Compliance and SAS 70 services to global businesses. The firm provides a variety of information security and information systems audit services to local, national Fortune 500 and international businesses. The firm’s Internet security consultants offer services ranging from the design and implementation of secure information technology frameworks, to the assessment of risk exposure of organizations, as well as the correction of existing security problems. Enterprise Risk Management Inc. was also named a Top 200 South Florida Small Business by Business Leader Magazine in 2008. For more information, visit www.emrisk.com.

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More Security Press Releases

Bank.Companion-Comprehensive Mobile Banking Software

New Jersey (PRWEB) October 13, 2010

Bank Companion, a leading provider of mobile banking software to banks, community banks and credit unions today announced that it will be sponsoring a special marketing seminar at the 2010 Bank Horizons Conference. The conference will be held on November 9th at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.

Bank Horizons is the Mid-Atlantic Region’s largest and most exciting banking show and features thought-provoking educational sessions, interactive panels, and vendor exhibits. Most importantly, the event showcases leading-edge technology solutions designed to help banks better compete in today’s volatile economy.

Bank Companion will help kick-off the conference with a special interactive seminar titled: Generating an ROI from Your Mobile Banking Initiatives. Commenting on the seminar’s theme, John Rovito, Bank Companion’s Senior Director of Sales & Marketing noted:

“Most observers take the position that over time, the winds of change will make mobile banking a standard application that every retail operation will need to offer. But what about ROI? Mobile banking has the potential to become so much more than simply a defensive tactic used to forestall customer attrition. Done properly, mobile banking can be a dynamic sales and marketing tool that gives a financial institution the ability to build loyalty and cross-sell products while directly impacting the bottom line: a revenue generator rather than an expense.”

About Bank Companion

Bank Companion is an industry-leading mobile banking provider that enables banks, community banks and credit unions to provide their customers with 24/7, anytime anywhere banking. Bank Companion gives financial institutions a competitive edge by integrating state-of-the-art technology with a host of innovative mobile marketing and advertising features. The result is a secure and scalable platform that helps your organization to increase loyalty, acquire new customers, cross-sell products plus much more. Visit our Mobile Banking Blog at http://www.MobileMavens.net.

Bank Companion is brought to you by ZSL, Inc – (http://www.zsl.com) – a global provider of software and technology services to the banking and financial sector. The company is headquartered in Edison, NJ, and currently employs more than 3500 IT consultants worldwide. Additional offices include: U.K. Canada, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, and India.

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©Copyright 1997-2010, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Banks Press Releases

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 30, 2006

Small business owners have a reputation for shopping around for the best possible product and services, but a recent survey by SurePayroll indicates this isn’t the case when small business owners choose their small business bank. The survey provides numerous useful insights for banks that are looking to target small business customers.

The key finding of the survey is that small business owners believe that all banks offer approximately the same products and services. In SurePayroll’s recent survey of 200 small business owners, fewer that 10% of business owners indicate that they choose their small business bank by evaluating the bank’s products and rates.

“The small business banking survey confirms what we’ve been telling banks for some time,” notes SurePayroll President Michael Alter. “Small business banking has become a commodity. With only a few exceptions, every bank offers the same products and services. It’s no surprise that small business owners are not spending much time evaluating a bank’s services.”

Online payroll service provider SurePayroll has assisted banks in differentiating their offerings through the introduction of a bank-branded payroll service. In a market that is trending toward commoditization, offering payroll can greatly enhance bank client retention and attract new business by offering a unique and useful service.

How Small Business Choose Banks

The survey results show that, in lieu of product differentiation, business owners go with familiarity. The primary method for choosing a bank for a small business account, used by 30% of the survey respondents, is to open a small business banking account at the same bank where the small business owner already has a personal banking account. Indeed, 65% of surveyed business owners indicated that they use the same bank for personal and business banking.

Bank location also appears to play an important role. 26% of survey respondents said they chose their small business bank because the bank was close to their business or home.

Surprisingly, not a single survey respondent indicated that they chose their bank because of one of the bank’s marketing programs. Other reasons for choosing a bank included getting a referral from a friend (10%), having previously used the bank for business purposes (10%), and being a member of a group that had an affiliation with the bank (5%). The remaining respondents (9%) cited other reasons for choosing their bank, including preexisting relationships with employees at the bank and a desire to support local banks.

The survey results also suggest that online banking capabilities are very important to small business owners. 79% of surveyed business owners indicate that they use online banking services that are available from their bank. Separate research by SurePayroll has confirmed that banks that offer online banking and online payroll keep customers longer and that their customers use a higher number of bank services than their counterparts at banks that do offer online functionality.

Close Ties Exist Between Small Business Bankers and Small Business Owners

Most small business owners (54%) indicated that they have one point of contact at their bank with whom they speak about business banking. The remaining respondents (46%) do not have a single point of contact.

Of those who have a single point of contact, 80% say that their banker would recognize them and remember their name if they saw the small business owners outside of the bank.

It appears that most small businesses are happy with their small business banking choices. 84% of respondents indicated that they would refer their bank to a friend.

In another indicator of small business banking satisfaction, 83% of respondents described their banks as being “small business friendly” — however, the remaining 17% did not don’t think their bank truly understands the needs of small businesses owners.

Is it worthwhile for a bank to court small business owners? Absolutely. The survey finds that a third of small business owners encourage their employees to use the same bank as the business.

“The message is clear,” notes Alter. “There is tremendous opportunity in courting small business owners. The key is to offer services that prospective customers want and to be innovative, taking action on introducing new offerings before your competitors do.”

About SurePayroll:

Privately held SurePayroll is America’s fifth largest full-service payroll provider and the nation’s largest online full-service payroll provider. SurePayroll is passionate about small businesses and their payroll. They are dedicated to providing an extremely friendly and simple payroll experience — at a price small business owners can afford.

In addition to providing payroll services directly to small business, SurePayroll also provides a private-label payroll service that allows SurePayroll’s numerous partners to offer payroll processing to their small business clients. Business partners include ABN AMRO, Pitney Bowes, and MasterCard. SurePayroll will process nearly billion in employee and contractor payroll payments in 2006. For more information, visit www.surepayroll.com.

For Media Inquires Contact:

Ken Gaebler

Walker Sands Communications

www.walkersands.com

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The I Can’t Get Enough Club – Book Cover

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 18, 2010

Real estate expert and author Mark B. Weiss delves deep into the corruption and scandal affecting the banking industry with his fictional novel “The I Can’t Get Enough Club” (Benjamin Mandel Publishing). Weiss will be signing copies of his book at Book Expo America, at Jacob K. Javits Center, New York, NY on Wednesday, May 26: 2:30 to 3:00pm at booth 3153 and on Thursday, May 27: 2:00 to 3:00pm in Autographing Area 2.

With recent announcements of bank closures and improprieties in the real estate world, Weiss’ edgy fictional mystery novel appears prophetic. If truth is stranger than fiction, then “The I Can’t Get Enough Club” will ring true and long.

The greed gland, the part of us overlooked in science and anatomy drives this story about two ambitious individuals – involving a brilliant woman driven by the need to win and a powerful man of unparalleled greed – and what happens when their financial worlds collide.

Endorsed by the Library Journal, “The I Can’t Get Enough Club,” with Chicago as its backdrop brings the reader inside the smoke-filled back rooms of Chicago’s banking, political, and business community with the story of ravenousness corruption and scandal, and what really happened to your community bank. “The I Can’t Get Enough Club” is a stylish, page-turning novel.

A graduate of DePaul University, Mark B. Weiss, a CCIM, Certified Commercial Member of the National Association of Realtor, has emerged as one of the country’s foremost authorities on real estate. Weiss is a former president of the exclusive Lincoln Park Builder’s Club, and served as a member of the Chicago Association of Realtors Board of Directors and chairman of the association’s Commercial Committee. Mark B. Weiss is the author of five other books: Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Developer: (Kaplan), Real Estate Flipping (Adams Media), Condos, Co-ops, and Town Homes (Kaplan), The Everything Homebuying Book (Adams Media), and The Streetwise Guide to Landlording & Property Management (Adams Media).

“The I Can’t Get Enough Club,” is now available in paperback and Kindle. For more information visit Benjamin Mandel Publishing: http://www.benjaminmandel.com or contact Kathy Welton of AKA Associates: (773) 636-6410 or kathy@kathywelton.com for author schedule or to request a review copy. Contact ACM PR – TEL: 312 373-1778 for interview requests.

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The IBM Cognos Relationship Pricing for Commercial Banking Blueprint offers commercial banks a performance management framework that enables relationship managers to efficiently model and price both credit and non-credit deal scenarios that are in line with corporate objectives. Managers can analyze proposed deals against a customer’s existing portfolio, giving them complete visibility into the customer’s total projected profitability and corresponding risk, making it easier to identify a deal price that will meet or exceed a bank’s defined earnings hurdle rates, and improve risk-adjusted return on capital.

“In this climate of economic uncertainty, punctuated by the recent sub-prime mortgage crisis, effective pricing of products and services for customers is critical. Competitive pricing, at the relationship level in particular, stimulates organic growth, drives new customer acquisition and cross-selling opportunities, and improves overall profitability and risk management,” said Patricia Hines, senior analyst, wholesale banking, at TowerGroup.

Combining out-of-the-box functionality from IBM Cognos 8 Planning and IBM Cognos 8 Business Intelligence (BI) software – including dashboards, analytical reports and a pre-configured data model – and encompassing banking industry best practices, the IBM Cognos Relationship Pricing for Commercial Banking Blueprint features:

* pricing capabilities for Credit and Treasury services
* deal and relationship profitability analysis capabilities for multiple pricing scenarios
* user-defined dashboards offering relationship managers book of business, profitability and proposal information to facilitate decision-making
* flexible dashboards offering executives high-level, up-to-date revenue, profitability and risk information across all portfolios
* centralized administration and integrated workflow to ensure consistency and accuracy across the loan pricing modeling, analysis and approvals process. This includes a pricing approvals form, displaying all of the deals that require approval and the high-level details of outstanding proposals

“Spreadsheet-based pricing models are ineffective because they cannot deliver holistic customer relationship information and insights which commercial bankers need to effectively price new business. These shortcomings are magnified given banks heightened focus on operational efficiencies and risk mitigation,” said Francis McKeon, banking industry director at Cognos. “The IBM Cognos Relationship Pricing for Commercial Banking Blueprint offers a consistent best practice risk-based pricing model where relationship managers can quickly evaluate new business pricing scenarios, measure their profitability and associated risk impact, then compare it against corporate hurdle rate targets. This assures executives that pricing deals are being developed in line with corporate goals, and can be easily adjusted as strategies change.”

Available immediately to customers, the IBM Cognos Relationship Pricing for Commercial Banking Blueprint is the fifth in a series of Banking Performance Blueprints launched by Cognos since 2006, including solutions for branch performance, corporate and retail banking customer segment performance, and risk-adjusted profitability. Cognos also offers a Performance Blueprint for insurance product profitability.

Cognos is a recognized leader in delivering performance management solutions for the banking industry. Over 1,000 financial services institutions worldwide use IBM Cognos solutions, including nine of the top 10 banks in Europe and all of the top 10 banks in the United States.