Xcert Adds PNC to its List of Banking Customers; PNC Bank Selects Xcert PKI Technology to Ensure Secure Web Interface for 25,000 Internal Users

Business Wire, Jan 2, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2001

Xcert(TM), a leading provider of software products for securing business-to-business transactions and communications over the Internet, today announced that PNC Bank, a member of the PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), has selected Xcert Sentry Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificate technology to enable a secure Web interface for 25,000 employees.

Xcert's ability to adapt to PNC Bank's infrastructure was a principal factor in the selection process. Because of their large number of users, PNC requires PKI technology that features an automated system for issuing and managing digital certificates. PNC is using Xcert's Software Development Kit to build a customized infrastructure allowing all of PNC's businesses to act as certificate authorities. With Xcert's Sentry, PNC and its businesses are able to integrate digital certificate issuance and customer support into existing processes, applications and support channels.

"It was important that Sentry did not require client-side software installation, making overall support for the system virtually hassle-free," said Jayme DiSanti, Vice President eSecurity at PNC Bank. "This team effort enabled us to leverage our business knowledge internally, while having access to Xcert's security and technology experts."

PNC Bank also chose to work with Xcert Sentry for its real-time Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP). Xcert is the only PKI technology provider to integrate into its product, real-time certificate-status checking, without the delay of certificate revocation lists.

"It is essential that financial institutions have the technology in place to provide secure online transactions for their customers," said Thomas Nolan, Xcert president and CEO. "Xcert provides flexible, scalable software that allows IT personnel to quickly establish an enterprise-wide, Web-based security system based on PKI digital certificate technology."

The announcement closely follows a partnership with Wachovia Corporation, the nation's 16th largest financial holding company.

About The PNC Financial Services Group

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations, providing regional banking, corporate banking, real estate finance, asset-based lending, private banking, asset management, and global fund processing services. For more information about PNC Bank, visit the company's Web site at http://www.pncbank.com.

About Xcert

Xcert, based in Walnut Creek, Calif., is an innovator in developing software for conducting secure e-commerce and Internet transactions. Through the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates, Xcert enables companies to quickly and easily control online information security, addressing privacy, authentication, data integrity, non-repudiation and access control. Xcert's scalable software suite allows companies to easily expand any user base to meet growing business requirements. Xcert also licenses its technology worldwide to selected service providers and third-party developers. For more information, visit www.xcert.com.

Note to Editors: Xcert and Sentry are registered trademarks of Xcert International, Inc.