In Brief: Checkfree Extends Pact with Bank One

Checkfree Holdings Corp. has extended an agreement it had with Bank One Corp. and will provide electronic bill presentment and payment services to customers of WingspanBank.com, the Chicago banking company's Internet-only subsidiary.

The Internet bank, launched in June, will introduce the billing and payment services "soon," Peter J. Kight, Checkfree chairman and chief executive officer, said Thursday.

Checkfree's public announcement confirmed reports from analysts who attended Checkfree's annual investor conference Tuesday. Bank One is one of few major banks using electronic bill presentment from Checkfree.

WingspanBank.com previously announced it was offering electronic bill payment services through an agreement with M&I Data Services Inc. of Milwaukee. That agreement, which was not exclusive, still stands, according to Nancy Langer, senior vice president and general manager of M&I's bill payment services.

-- Ross Snel