Tech Bytes: NationsBank Renews Deal with Checkfree

Checkfree Corp. has signed a two-year contract with NationsBank Corp. to provide electronic banking and bill payment for customers using the Managing Your Money personal finance software.

The agreement renews an existing contract. Checkfree, based in Columbus, Ohio, serves more than 720,000 home banking customers using 142 financial institutions.

NationsBank is a part-owner of Meca Software, the company that makes Managing Your Money. The Charlotte, N.C., banking company has signed more than 100,000 people to use its version of the software since introducing it in April.

"This represents a great relationship with a bank that understands the value of electronic commerce," said Checkfree spokesman Matthew S. Lewis. "The answers to the questions 'When are banks going to successfully offer home banking?' and 'When are people going to want it?' are clearly being answered by NationsBank customers."