Tech Bytes: Group Urges Openness On Year-2000 Planning

The Electronic Funds Transfer Association is recommending that banks actively communicate their preparations and readiness for the year-2000 computer problem.

"The public needs to know that the financial industry has worked closely with federal regulators to avoid complications caused by the so-called Y2K problem," said H. Kurt Helwig, executive director of the association, which put the issue on the agenda for its board meeting last Tuesday.

The group asked for advice from Matthew Harrington, western region president of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, and Marc Osborne, communications director of DMR Consulting Group.

"With the questions raised by Y2K, the public needs to know that the financial services industry continues to receive high marks when it comes to preparing," said Mr. Helwig. With the industry having spent billions of dollars to comply with year-2000 protocols, he said, "the issue is how to get that message out to the public."

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