Just Thinking

You hold in your hands the first issue of BS&T for the new millennium (I guess that tells you exactly where I stand on the whole first year of the newcentury debate). For the staff of BS&T, this issue also marks another important milestone-the completion of a four-month magazine redesign process.

In that short period of time, we have totally revamped the look of BS&T, not for the sake of change, but to make it more useful and friendly for you. For example, articles that merit special attention are now mentioned on the magazine cover. The table of contents has been reorganized for quick and easy usage. Page design has been simplified-making stories both easier to read and Xerox.

In addition to a new look, we have also expanded our editorial coverage to help you better understand the constantly changing bank technology marketplace. We now devote a page to international news items, a reflection of the growing impact of globalization in the financial marketplace. The magazine also includes an additional feature story that takes an in-depth look at a breaking bank technology. Each issue will also contain a special section- a series of articles examining trends in either community banking or an emerging bank technology.

The final aspect of our redesign involves a logo change. The new logo, which is running for the first time on the cover of this issue, is a representation of everything we hope to accomplish in the upcoming years. For example, its new tagline, "The Technology Roadmap For Banking Executives," reflects our ongoing commitment to provide technology information to actual bank decision makers. We have also officially incorporated our Web address (www.banktech.com) into the logo-a sign that we take the Internet seriously and plan to do more in that space, as will become evident in the coming months.

Last but not least is the design of the logo itself, a look that ties us to our sister publications in the Financial Technology Network-Insurance & Technology and Wall Street &Technology. With the help of these magazines, we will be able to provide you with in-depth coverage on all convergence issues-arguably the future for the financial industry and information no other publication is in the position to provide.

In closing, this redesign would have been impossible without the hard work and creative vision of Cheryl Petit de Mange, BS&T art director, who spent many hours taking ideas and making them reality. I would be remiss if I did not thank her for her effort, understanding and perseverance.