COVER STORY Banks Increasingly Deploying Green Technologies in Data Centers As energy consumption and costs continue to mushroom, banks increasingly are tapping new technologies -- such as IT asset management, virtualization and cooling solutions -- to improve the efficiency (and environmental friendliness) of their data centers. Sidebar Power Management Software Reduces Energy Consumption In Data Centers Cassatt's Active Power Management software turns off servers when idle and then turns them back on again when needed. FEATURE Evolving Card Business Presents Opportunities and Threats for Banks Cards in all their varied forms will continue to provide savvy banks with a lucrative business for years to come. But banks will have to fend off increasing competition from nontraditional players. Sidebar KeyBank Uses Prepaid Cards to Reach Underbanked KeyBank's PayWorks payroll card is an unbranded, PIN-based debit payroll card that employers can offer their workers. EXECUTIVE Q&A To Think Globally, Scotiabank Acts Locally According to Bob Grant, SVP, global transaction banking, Scotiabank, even if a bank offers an integrated, global cash management platform, it still needs an extensive branch network to meet corporate clients' full range of needs. RISK/COMPLIANCE WATCH Internal Fraud Still a Danger as Banks Adjust Strategy As internal fraud increases, banks are turning their attention -- and systems -- toward monitoring employees. CHANNEL WATCH Select-A-Branch Takes New Approach to ATM Distribution Select-A-Branch ATM service model eliminates consumer surcharges while maintaining bank brands. PAYMENTS WATCH BISS Says SEPA Efforts Too Bank-Centric Research firm illustrates shortcomings of SEPA initiative from corporates' perspective. Sidebar 10 Corporate Concerns About SEPA According to the B.I.S.S. Research there are 10 main areas of concern surrounding SEPA among corporates. |
FROM THE EDITOR How Will Consolidation in the Document Management Sector Affect Banks? Recently announced mergers between Exstream Software and HP, and Document Sciences and EMC, highlight the importance of document management technologies in the financial services industry. INDUSTRY WATCH U.K.'s FSA Considering Tougher Bank Regulation FSA's response to credit crisis could mean more IT spending for U.K. banks. Mounting Evidence Shows Underbanked are Favorable Risks for Banks The risk profile for consumers with no credit files is not as negative as banks once thought. Sidebar Only 1 Percent of No-File Consumers Declared Bankrupcy Consumers with no credit files actually can prove to be good risks compared to consumers with full credit files when factors other than credit scores are examined. Wincor-Nixdorf Expands FedEx/Kinkos Deal with Courier Service Wincor-Nixdorf can now distribute spare ATM parts by using FedEx/Kinkos' locations and personnel. Intuit and ECHO Agree to Acquisition With its purchase of Electronic Clearing House (ECHO), Intuit plans to round out its payments offerings. BEST PRACTICES UMB Bank Taps Trillium for Data Consolidation Looking to become more customer centric, UMB implements Trillium data quality software as part of a CRM implementation. People's United Bank Automates Entitlements People's United Bank aligns entitlement management with traditional business roles and adopts Courion's Enterprise Provisioning Suite to automate provisioning chores. CommunityOne Streamlines HR Functions CommunityOne implements a hosted time and attendance solution from Attendance on Demand to streamline human resources functions and prepare for growth. PERSPECTIVES Health Savings Accounts Present Huge Opportunity to Banks Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer banks an opportunity to attract new deposits and deepen business banking relationships. But the extent to which they must service account holders, plus banks' ability to navigate regulatory requirements, may determine if they can seize that opportunity. EXECUTIVE WATCH J. Randolph Bryan Named COO of First Trust Corp. Bryan was executive VP of sales at Capital One before joining First Trust. City National Bank Appoints Rodney Banks VP of Commercial Banking Services As the new executive VP and manager of commercial banking services at City National Bank, Banks says CRM solutions will be more vital now than ever before. |