Briefs: Bargain Internet Service For ACB Members

To encourage employees of its 2,000 member thrifts to surf the Internet, America's Community Bankers struck a deal with Internet service provider Sprynet of Seattle.

Sprynet is offering 30 days of free Internet access to ACB members. After that the thrifts may choose plans ranging from $4.95 to $19.95 a month per computer.

"We really want to try to encourage our members who have not yet ventured onto the Internet," said Lamar Brantley, ACB's director of programs. "We want to provide them with a low-cost, easy means of trying it out."

Thrift executives who access the Internet will be able to tap into ACB's annual convention in San Francisco next month through the trade group's home page.

"You see it in rock concerts," Mr. Brantley said. "For trade associations it's a fairly new use of the Internet."