Servantis Systems Inc. is testing Windows-based balance reporting software designed to help more commercial banks compete with the top cash managers.
The system, called Infovue, allows banks to offer business customers on- line access to accounts for prior day and current balance reporting, wire transfers, electronic mail, and check management, such as queries and stop- payment orders.
Servantis will also develop add-on modules in 1996 so that corporate treasurers and cash managers can begin automated clearing house and electronic data interchange payments.
Infovue, which works with Servantis' Access cash management system, is modeled after software that a growing number banks are developing in-house.
Servantis officials pointed out that although the software is not exclusively designed for smaller banks, it does provide them with a ready- made product similar to software in use at larger competitors.
Bob Horn, a senior vice president with Liberty Bancorp., an Oklahoma City-based institution which is one of four test sites for Infovue, underscored the importance of such Windows-based software packages by saying banks that do not offer it will likely lose corporate accounts.
Mr. Horn said that businesses are increasingly reducing the number of banking relationships they maintain. Banks that lack sophisticated cash management software give their corporate customers "a very strong argument to go with an institution that can provide it."
Liberty, with nearly $3 billion of assets, has evolved from providing relatively small cash management service to businesses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City to an institution "top-heavy, Mr. Horn said, with corporate accounts.
It has fought to stave off regional branching incursions from larger cash management banks like Banc One Corp., Columbus, Ohio, Boatmen's Bancshares, St. Louis, and Fourth Financial Corp., Wichita, Kan.
"I'm not competing with the local folks anymore; I'm competing with the big guys that have all the technology," said Mr. Horn, a 30-year veteran of cash management services.
"I need to be able to say 'You don't have to look at Columbus or St. Louis, we can do it all right here in town.'"
Other banks testing Infovue are Republic National Bank of New York, Meridian Bancorp, Reading, Pa., and SouthTrust Corp., Birmingham, Ala.
