New York City-Based Bank Audi USA Selects Sumx To Provide Internet Banking Services To Customers

Business Wire, Oct 24, 2000

Business Editors

MADISON, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2000

In-house system provides customized features while protecting

customers' data

Sumx Inc., an in-house electronic banking solutions provider for the financial industry, announced that its Internet banking system, SumxNet, has been installed at New York City-based Bank Audi USA, a $700 million asset bank, to provide online banking services to its diverse private banking customer base worldwide.

According to Bank Audi representatives, SumxNet was selected foremost because the system enables the bank to keep all of its customers' information in-house rather than outsourced to a third party. "Customer confidentiality and privacy are exceedingly important issues for us and, because Sumx' system does not rely on third-party service bureaus, we are able to maintain complete control of our customers' information," said Bank Audi USA assistant vice president of information systems, Ming-Ji Ouyang.

SumxNet's flexibility and scalability also factored heavily into Bank Audi's selection of SumxNet. "We did not want to be locked into someone else's idea of an Internet banking system, and that is what some of the larger vendors would require us to do," said Ouyang. "We wanted something that could be tailored to fit what we feel our customers want as far as features, ease of use, and look and feel. SumxNet allowed us to do that."

SumxNet also replaces an existing legacy electronic messaging system that the bank had been using to communicate and conduct transactions with customers around the world. In order to facilitate a smooth transition between the two systems, Sumx designers enhanced SumxNet by creating new forms and transactions interfaces within the system.

Through SumxNet, Bank Audi customers will now be able to access balance information, conduct wire transfers and bill payment, and contact the bank online. In addition, the bank plans to upgrade its item processing system in the near future in order to utilize SumxNet's check imaging features and provide bank customers with online check images.

"Bank Audi USA's philosophy has always been to maintain the perfect balance between service and technology," said Joseph Audi, president of Bank Audi USA. "As we expand our services online, this remains vitally important to us and our customers and I believe that Sumx' system will enable us to maintain this philosophy while protecting our customers' privacy."

"Bank Audi represents our largest customer to date, but more importantly has given us the opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility of SumxNet to meet the needs of banks with an international customer base," said Bazile Lanneau, president of Sumx. "We are presently developing Fedline and SWIFT interfaces for Bank Audi's significant wire transfer activity and look forward to the implementation of SumxNet's multi-lingual capabilities."

SumxNet eliminates banks' dependence on service bureaus by enabling them to incorporate their customer information directly into their Internet banking systems in-house. This frees banks to package and price their Internet banking offerings as they choose. SumxNet also features a transaction tracking and billing system, check categorization system, unlimited customer history depth, check image access and bill payment.

About Bank Audi USA

Bank Audi USA was established in 1983 as a commercial bank and chartered by the state of New York. It is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and was established for the purpose of providing full banking facilities to clients throughout the world. Bank Audi USA currently has clients in 45 states and 70 foreign countries.

Additional information about Bank Audi USA can be found online at www.bankaudiusa.com.

About Sumx

Founded in 1995, with offices in Madison, Miss. and Dallas, Texas, Sumx provides installation, training and support for their customizable, in-house electronic banking solution, SumxNet, to financial institutions throughout the United States. SumxNet was originally developed for Britton & Koontz First National Bank, Natchez, Miss. (Nasdaq: BKBK).

SumxNet's intelligent Web template system supports branding and multiple identities for consumer and commercial Web sites as well as the delivery of customized marketing and cross-sell information. SumxNet features a strong transaction tracking and billing system and value-added features including check categorization, unlimited history depth, check image access and bill payment.

For more information on Sumx and SumxNet, write to: Sumx, 141 Executive Drive, Suite 5, Madison, MS 39110, or visit the company's Web site at www.sumx.com.