NYCE Corp. announced on Wednesday an agreement to deliver remote banking services for $22 billion-asset Marine Midland Banks Inc., one of its seven equity owners.
The regional electronic network based in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. struck a similar deal with Bank of New York Co. in August.
Competing with national brands like Intuit Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Visa Interactive, Marine Midland's selection "tell(s) us we're a very viable choice for the emerging business of remote banking," said Dennis Lynch, chairman and chief executive officer of NYCE.
Robert Muth, senior vice president of operations for Marine Midland, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, said it chose NYCE's package because of the convenience it offers its 800,000-plus customer base.
He added that the price was right. Using the ATM infrastructure already in place means "less internal systems development work - the real expense," he said.
The bank will initiate a pilot with employees in mid-1997. A rollout is expected by the third quarter of next year. Marine will offer customers a customized software package from NYCE with the bank logo.
NYCE is completing a deal to hook into Microsoft's home banking system. Marine Midland customers will be able to use Microsoft Money when the bank goes on-line if they choose. Those transactions will be routed from Microsoft to NYCE and then to the bank.
Mr. Lynch said NYCE is negotiating with about 25 smaller member banks for their home banking business as well, but he is thinking bigger. NYCE is exhibiting at BAI's Retail Delivery Conference in Dallas this week.
"We're building products of a national scope, we want to be at RD to show that off," he said.
Mr. Muth, a NYCE director, cautioned, "Let's focus first on our own marketplace, the Northeast."
