North America Bytes

AMVESCAP National Trust Company, Atlanta, has signed a multi-year contract extension with BISYS, a New York-based provider of business process outsourcing solutions for the financial services sector.

BISYS will continue to provide fund accounting and transfer agency services for the 29 trust funds offered by AMVESCAP National Trust Company. AMVESCAP National Trust Company is an affiliate of AMVESCAP PLC, one of the world's leading investment management companies offering a broad array of investment products and services to institutions and individuals, and managing more than $361 billion in assets. The firm operates under the well known AIM and INVESCO brand names.

"BISYS understands our strategic business objectives and has consistently exceeded our service-related expectations," said Robert Thomann, president and chief executive officer of AMVESCAP National Trust Company. "BISYS has demonstrated its unique commitment to service our accounts with forward-thinking technology, exceptional service levels, and fund accounting and transfer agency solutions customized to meet the specific needs of AMVESCAP National Trust Company and our collective funds."

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CIBC Business Banking, the Internet business service of Canada-based CIBC, was recently launched using products from S1 Corporation, Atlanta.

CIBC is the first Canadian bank to deliver a complete transactional business banking Website, which offers cash management services that provide sophisticated functionality and state-of-the-art security within an intuitive and user-friendly environment. S1 Corporate Banking enables CIBC to retain its business clients while offering enhanced services that simplify its clients' financial processes and makes their businesses more competitive.

"S1 has helped CIBC to realize its vision and be first-to-market in Canada with a robust transactional business banking Web solution," said Steve Webster, vice president of Business Deposits & Payments at CIBC. "By implementing CIBC Business Banking, CIBC was able to streamline its back-end systems, replace several legacy applications with one integrated solution and automate many back-office procedures that were formerly executed manually. CIBC is now able to offer its business customers one web-based service to satisfy all cash management needs."

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Bank One Corporation and Microsoft Corporation have announced a three-year strategic relationship valued at more than $30 million to jointly promote and develop services and products for the two companies' U.S. customers, focusing on consumers and small and midsize businesses.

As part of the agreement, Bank One will use the MSN Advantage Marketing Program to help accelerate the adoption and use of Bank One's suite of financial service products, and will integrate offerings with Microsoft Great Plains and the Microsoft bCentral small-business portal to deliver financial services to small and midsize businesses. Bank One also will incorporate a number of other Microsoft technologies, including the Microsoft .NET Alerts Service, which makes it easy for individuals to receive relevant information from Bank One any time, any place and on any device.

"Microsoft is the world's leader in creating technology to make life easier and better for consumers and businesses," said Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of Bank One. "This expertise is a key reason why Bank One chose to work with Microsoft to reach our customers and potential customers with financial solutions that best meet their needs and to develop future products utilizing Microsoft technology."