Tech Bytes: Fitech Adds Seminars On Home Banking

HEATHROW, Fla. - Fitech Inc. has doubled its electronic banking seminar schedule for this year, in response to a growing demand from community bankers to learn more about the technology, company officials said.

The electronic banking software firm has already announced that it will hold twice as many community banker seminars through April as it conducted in all of last year.

Leading the way is company president Bob Chamberlain, an outspoken advocate of education and technological change as the bankers' formula to stay competitive.

"Primarily small banks feel the pressure to become conversant about home banking because their customers are asking about it," he said. "Bankers are searching for ideas to move faster and further along the information superhighway."

In many cases, Mr. Chamberlain said, a bank's customers use the information superhighway more than their bankers. Thus, bankers must become more knowledgeable so that their institutions can retain current customers and acquire new ones.

"Home banking with electronic bill payment, corporate cash management via personal computer, automated clearing house origination, and telephone voice response are the wave of the future," said Mr. Chamberlain. "These services must be made available to compete in the next decade."