PITTSBURG - PNC Bank Corp. is planning to introduce new personal computer cash management software.
Slated for delivery in December, the first release of the new Pinacle for Windows software will let people in corporate treasury offices use personal computers with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows graphical user interface to download transaction records of demand deposit accounts.
The information will be formatted in such a way that it can be transferred into relational data base management or electronic spreadsheet software on the PCs.
Upgrade in the Works
A second version of the software, due in May, will let people send instructions for wire transfer and automated clearing house payments to PCN. Later versions of Pinacle for Windows will also let PNC's corporate customers obtain information about, and initiate transactions for, other services.
"You will be able to access all of our on-line products through this," said Daniel J. Pavlick, vice president responsible for electronic products in PNC's treasury management division.
Since 1987, PNC has operated a computer system called Pinacle that more than 1,500 of the bank's corporate customers use to obtain information and operating services through facsimile machines, "dumb" terminals, PC-DOS computers, and touchtone telephones.
Easier to Use
The Pinacle for Windows software is intended to be much easier to use than the interfaces PNC currently offers.
The main difference is that the new software will support a "point and click" graphical interface, in which people point a mouse at an icon to execute commands, rather than typing instructions.
PNC hopes that the improved ease of use spurs its corporate customers to use more operating services.
"If you have a more attractive front end, you expect people to use it more," Mr. Pavlick said.
But people will also pay for the ease of use. While declining to be more specific, Mr. Pavlick said that people will pay a onetime license fee "that won't exceed $1,500" to obtain Pinacle for Windows.
Getting More
There is no charge for the interface software PNC currently offers. Mr. Pavlick said the charge is justified, since PNC customers will be getting more information than is possible with the Pinacle interfaces PNC currently offers.
For example, Pinacle for Windows will have a relational data base management system from Microsoft called Access, into which people can download information from the bank.
The initial version of Pinacle for Windows will only offer access into Stratus Computer Inc., fault tolerant computers with only a portion of the information the bank records about its operating services.
|Well Positioned'
A future version will support access into PNC's mainframe computer, to let users get more timely and complete information. PNC is also working on improved security controls that entail use of both passwords and keys held by users.
"We feel we'll be well positioned into the next five or six years with this product," Mr. Pavlick said.
PNC plans to begin marketing Pinacle for Windows to its customers at the Treasury Management Association conference in New orleans next month.
