BANK tech-trends News
 

April 28 - May 2, 2008

• Hardware News
• Software Updates
• ATMs/Kiosks
• Biometric Digest Highlights
• Wireless World
• Security Section
• Leaders Roundtable
• Technology and Marketing
• Online Banking/E-Commerce/
  Website Design
• Internet Access
• Call Centers

Hardware News

Fujitsu announced the MHZ2 CJ series, a new line of 2.5 drives with FDE (full disk encryption) capabilities, joining rivals Hitachi and Seagate who have been shipping similar hardware based encryption on some of their models. The additional twist that Fujitsu puts on their MHZ2 CJ drives is 256 bit AES encryption, which should ensure an even stronger protection than what rival solutions provide. The new drives will offer up to 320 GB capacity, SATA connectivity and will spin at 7200 RPM.

Digital Check, a leading provider of desktop check scanners for the remote deposit capture and branch automation market, announced a new check scanner designed for the small business distributed check capture market. The new scanning device, CheXpress, offers a smaller footprint, and its features include dual scanning of images, dual check endorsement and dual MICR read technology. The firm is targeting the estimated 14.5 million small businesses that are candidates for remote deposit capture.

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ATMs/Kiosks

United Cash Solutions now offers wireless and Internet protocol connectivity for ATMs. The Beveryly, MA-based firm says that their connectivity options work with any standard ATM. The UCS IP router converts the ATM’s connectivity from analog dial-up to IP. UCS also is providing wireless ATM service utilizing the AT&T and T-Mobile cellular networks.

The ATM Industry Association is rolling out the first “official” international symbol for the ATM. The global ATM pictogram has been registered by the International Organization for Standardization, and passed an evaluation test in three global cultures. The ATMIA plans a worldwide promotional campaign to encourage the adoption of the symbol.

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User authentication firm e-Solutions has developed a system based on individual typing behavior, including speed, rhythm and agility. The technology is designed to overcome some of the existing problems with biometric technology by adding an extra layer of security to normal log-in systems. The Remote Biometric Authentication system analyses typing characteristics to create an individual user profile or 'typing fingerprint'. The software senses pauses, mistakes and speed, which e-Solutions says are just as personally identifiable as handwriting.

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According to analyst house Gartner, the number of people making payments using their mobile phones globally is set to soar from 32.9 million in 2008 to 103.9 million in 2011. The research firm says SMS text messages will continue to be the dominant channel for mobile payments, although take up of wireless application protocol (WAP), unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) and near field communications (NFC) contactless services will also grow. Yet Gartner is cautious about revenue opportunities that m-payments offer for banks and claims mobile operators have more to gain from the technology.

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Visa announced a new fraud reduction service that is designed to enable banks to easily create, test and execute card authorization rules. Visa Risk Manager is comprised of the following three services: 

- Visa Rules Manager: This is a web application that allows issuers to create, test and publish customized decisioning rules using risk information from multiple sources. 

- Visa Real Time Decisioning: This gives banks the capability to allow Visa to act on their behalf to decline or forward to the issuer for action, high-fraud-risk transactions using predefined rules created by the issuer. This real-time service addresses potential fraud as it flows through Visa so it never reaches the issuer.

- Visa Case Manager: After transactions have gone through the issuer's normal authorization process, the Visa Case Manager web application enables issuers to view, prioritize, and manage transactions that require further investigation.

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Security:

Perimeter, Host and Endpoint Security – Finding the Right Mix

Arcot - http://www.arcot.com   Read R. 'Doc' Vaidhyanathan's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Arcot.pdf

Astaro - http://www.astaro.com Read Alex Quinonez's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Astaro.pdf

Code Green Networks - http://www.codegreennetworks.com   Read Brian Czarny's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CGN.pdf

Digital Resolve - http://www.digital-resolve.net Read Dennis Maicon's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/DigitalResolve.pdf

e-DMZ Security - http://www.e-dmzsecurity.com   Read Kris Zupan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/e-DMZ.pdf

HEIT - http://www.goheit.com   Read Dan Holt's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Heit.pdf

Integrated Computer Solutions - http://www.icsinc.com   Read Stephen Goldsby's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/ICS.pdf

MagTek - http://www.magtek.com   Read Kiran Gandhi's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/MagTek.pdf

Netsecuris - http://www.netsecuris.com   Read Leonard Jacobs' comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Netsecuris.pdf

Network Box - http://www.networkboxusa.com   Read Pierluigi Stella's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/NetworkBox.pdf

Perimeter eSecurity - http://www.perimeterusa.com   Read Kevin Prince's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Perimeter.pdf

Proofpoint - http://www.proofpoint.com   Read Sandra Vaughan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Proofpoint.pdf

Sydel - http://www.sydelcorp.com   Read Antonio Gonzalez's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Sydel.pdf

TraceSecurity - http://www.tracesecurity.com   Read Jim Stickley's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/TraceSecurity.pdf

TriGeo Network Security - http://www.trigeo.com   Read Michelle Dickman's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/TriGeo.pdf

ZixCorp - http://www.zixcorp.com   Read Dena Bauckman's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Zix.pdf

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Historically, many banks have relied on the convenience factor - particularly via their branch and ATM networks - to bring in deposits. More recently, some have turned to higher rates to attract customers, sometimes through online high-yield savings rates. But some experts contend that banks must use better analytics to bring in more deposits. They argue that banks must deploy the same type of analytics used with credit cards and mortgages to gathering deposits.

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Payment Innovations has launched BillCharger which allows users to pay any bill with their Visa or MasterCard credit card even if the merchant does not accept credit cards. The company says that BillCharger securely manages the entire bill payment process - users enter only their payment and credit card information. BillCharger's interface stores frequently used payee information, as well as a complete history of the bills that users have paid with the service.

According to Forrester Research, the growing consumer adoption of social media such as blogs, wikis, Facebook and customer ratings sites is altering the relationship between financial service firms and consumers. Forrester’s survey found that 62 percent of U.S. online banking users participate in social media activities such as blogs and customer ratings sites. Plus Web bankers are 14 percent more likely than the average online adult to engage in social media activities. Forrester recommends that those departments at the bank that are responsible for online banking try to understand how their online customers use and interact with social media, and then advise senior management on the most appropriate social media strategy for the bank. 

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Internet Access

AT&T is partnering with Cisco to offer what will be the first fully managed Cisco Telepresence solution — AT&T Telepresence Solution. Customers will be offered the choice of one- or three-screen options, based on Cisco’s Telepresence 1000 and 3000 solutions. The three-screen system allows multiple parties to be joined in a session with the felling of sitting at the same conference table. With the Cisco Telepresence MultiPoint Switch, as many as 48 locations can be supported on a single call.

Banks in 23 U.S. cities will soon have access to broadband speeds up to 20 megabits per second because of Qwest's fiber-to-the-home rollout. The phased rollout of fiber will bring two new service plans, Connect Quantim with 20M bps service and Connect Titanium with 12 M bps. Qwest's Connect Quantim service will cost $99.99 when a customer has another Qwest service, such as wireless or phone service. Connect Titanium will cost $46.99 a month when paired with another Qwest service. When customers sign up for two years of service, they are guaranteed that "price for life," claims a company spokesperson.

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Call Centers

Virtually every call center expert stresses the importance of quality coaching techniques. Some suggest that call centers employ call coaches to review a handful of remotely taped phone calls each month for each CSR, and then work with the CSR to analyze good points and opportunities for improvement. In addition, some recommend that the supervisor coach the CSRs via at least one or two side-by-side coaching sessions each month.

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