Caliber of Ariz. installs Sendero risk software.

Caliber Bank, the largest independent bank in Arizona, is installing asset/liability management software that's expected to enhance the bank's ability to evaluate risk, officials said.

The program, from Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Sendero Corp., was developed to measure and manage interest-rate risk.

The program uses a data base that draws information from the bank's loans and deposit systems. The data is used to create simulations and what-if analyses, enabling the bank to identify the potential impact of different strategies, such as pricing, on the bank's portfolio.

"Sendero Corp.'s integrated software allows us to do a lot of sophisticated programming on the bank's portfolio of assets and liabilities," said Frank Raiter, treasurer of the $1.8 billion-asset institution, based in Phoenix. "The program can also be used in strategic. planning and product service pricing, as well as in measuring the interest-rate risk profile of the bank."

Mr. Raiter said that bank officials had evaluated a number of asset/liability programs before selecting Sendero, a company with which they were familiar.

"They have a new generation of software under development," he said, "and we like the fact that they are based in Arizona and can provide support for us right here."

Sendero, a subsidiary of Milwaukee-based Fiserv Inc., is in the midst of a significant product development effort, according to a company spokeswoman.

The company is creating a new line of asset/liability programs, called Sendera Vision, that will replace existing systems.

One, slated for fourth-quarter release, will run in Windows, and the company is planning the development of programs that run in OS/2 and Unix.

"We're excited about having Caliber as a client," said Elliot Rosen, president of Sendero, and a former senior vice president with Bank One-Arizona. "As Caliber is Arizona's largest independent bank, we welcome the opportunity to strengthen our ties to the Arizona banking community."

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