NORTH AMERICA BYTES

Bank of New York adds a loan technology platform from SS&C Technologies; UMB Bank partners with ACH Systems to develop electronic insufficient fund check recovery service; Providian Financial Corporation uses Web hosting services from WorldCom; Golden 1 Credit Union first to use wireless Internet banking solution from Corillian and Air2Web; Fiserv acquires the item processing business of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

The asset servicing subsidiary of the Bank of New York has added a loan technology platform from SS&C Technologies, Windsor, Conn.

The subsidiary, BNY Asset Solutions LLC, will use the SS&C platform, called LMS 2000, to create additional capacity and facilitate the performance of commercial real estate servicing tasks, such as investor and Schedule B reporting.

Through the use of a Windows 32-bit local client/server system and Microsoft SQL Server software, LMS 2000 integrates all aspects of the loan management process, including interfacing with the Internet.

"Our organization strives to offer the most flexible and innovative technology available today," said Todd Moore, president, Bank of New York Asset Solutions. "As a vendor-supported reporting system, SS&C's LMS 2000 system complements our existing technologies, while meeting our current needs and providing the flexibility needed for future product development."

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UMB Bank, Kansas City, Mo., has partnered with ACH Systems, Corinth, Mass., to offer an electronic insufficient fund check recovery service to the bank's large and small commercial clients that accept consumer checks as a form of payment.

The service, called NSF eCollect, improves collection rates, and saves money and resources when collecting NSF checks returned by the bank after first presentment. It is designed to take advantage of recent changes to National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) rules, which now allow business customers to reclear NSF checks twice electronically through the ACH network using a new "Represented Check Entries" transaction. Reclearing checks electronically can reduce the bank fees associated with traditional NSF checks.

UMB is using existing timing and call center technology provided by Surepay eCollect, a division of ACH Systems, to relieve the commercial depositor of the burden of collections, and the bank from having to handle the return item again.

"UMB, in cooperation with SurePay eCollect, is proud to offer our corporate clients the most comprehensive collection and recovery service available," said David Fuller, senior vice president and director of Treasury Management, UMB. "UMB is committed to providing the most cost-effective business tools for our clients and this service is no exception."

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Providian Financial Corporation, San Francisco, will use Web hosting services from WoldCom, Clinton, Miss., on its corporate Internet site.

Leveraging Digex capabilities, WorldCom's hosting service allow Providian's customers real-time, continuous access to confidential account information and secure online sales and transactions, such as opening CDs, and money market deposit accounts.

"Achieving 100% customer satisfaction is our number one goal," said Tanni Graichen, executive vice president Integrated Card Business Technology, Providian. "The Internet is a critical channel for our customers and business overall. Our internal and external customer expectations are extremely high. The challenge was to exceed those expectations by providing fast, reliable and secure Internet services 24-7."

In other Providian news, the bank will install a new online convenience application for its Smart Visa cardholders that will allow them to more easily make online purchases and securely store personal data on the cards.

The application will be powered by GemUtilities software, smart chips and smart card readers provided by GemPlus International, Redwood City, Calif.

"A strong relationship with our cardholders is essential to our industry," said Elizabeth Tse, senior vice president, Providian. "Offering our customers the benefits of smart chip technology, with applications such as GemUtilities, reinforces Providian's proven customer-focused business technology."

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Golden 1 Credit Union will be the first financial institution to utilize a fully integrated wireless Internet banking solution developed by Corillian Corporation, Oregon, and Air2Web, Georgia.

Corillian will integrate Air2Web's wireless solution into its mobile applications and Internet banking platform, allowing financial institutions to provide customers with wireless services such as funds transfer, account balancing and transaction review through digital cell phones, pagers, and Web-enabled devices such as PDAs.

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Fiserv Incorporated, Brookfield, Wis., has agreed to acquire the item processing business of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB). Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Fiserv will now operate two FHLB item processing facilities located near Philadelphia. These two operations provide a full range of check and document services to approximately 120 financial institutions in three states, and handle almost 120 million items annually.

"Item processing remains an essential service for today's financial institutions, as customers continue to use checks for their financial transactions," said Leslie M. Muma, president and CEO of Fiserv. "In our position as the largest provider of item processing services, Fiserv is continually expanding and enhancing our capabilities within this business to better serve the needs of our client base."