Wells Fargo Bank and First National Bank of Commerce, Ga., are trying to tap a new market with Internet banking sites for users of WebTV.
WebTV is an appliance that turns conventional television sets into Internet surfing devices.
Although most people use PCs for Internet access, WebTV has been expected to appeal to those who are less computer-savvy.
Both Wells and First National redesigned their Web sites to accommodate TV users, who typically sit farther away from their screens than PC users do.
First National, with the help of Athens, Ga.-based nFront, created a site with particularly bright colors and large type sizes.
Wells modified its Web pages to free users from having to scroll horizontally across their screens.
In each case, software on the bank's server detects when an Internet customer is using WebTV and automatically provides the proper interface.
First National views WebTV Networks Inc.-a company that Microsoft Corp. has agreed to acquire for $425 million-"as a popular means for the bulk of the population to access the Internet," said Larry R. Cole, executive vice president of the $120 million-asset bank.
Rene Christensen, vice president at Wells Fargo, said: "There are many consumers who will not access the Internet with a computer. We want to make sure that they do their bill payment with us."
Mr. Cole said laying out $250 for a WebTV box is "not nearly as daunting as going out and buying a PC. It certainly is a much cheaper way to access the Internet."
First National is the first of eight community banks expected to announce Web banking offerings through nFront this summer. Others include First National Bank and Trust of Pipestone, Minn., and Citizens Tri-County Bank of Dunlap, Tenn.
"The primary reason to target community banks is that the decision cycle takes less time," said Tripp Rackley, president of nFront, which was founded last year.
"The Internet levels the playing ground for banks, and our system is designed to be able to bring them up fast."
Last week, Palo Alto, Calif.-based WebTV announced plans to upgrade its Web browser to support the level of security known as Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL.
SSL lets Web sites handle the type of data encryption that banks need to offer transactional services on-line.
