Headlines:
First Data Acquires New Zealand Vendor
First Data Corp. has completed its purchase of Peace Software Inc., and created a business unit, First Data Utilities, to hold the Auckland, New Zealand, utility billing software company.
The Denver processing giant did not say what it paid for Peace, but analysts had said the deal, which was announced in July and closed Friday, probably was worth less than $10 million.
Utilities use Peace software to manage billing and customer service. First Data said it would be the cornerstone of its global utility product line.
Sebastian J. Gunningham, Peace's chief executive, has been named the president of First Data Utilities, which is part of First Data Corp.'s financial institution services division.
Northrim of Alaska Using Digital Insight
Northrim Bank of Anchorage has selected Digital Insight Corp. as its provider of online banking and bill payment software.
The Calabasas, Calif., vendor said last week that Northrim plans to install its Internet banking, business banking, and bill payment applications for its 30,000 retail and corporate customers.
Digital Insight says its software can work with more than 100 core processing packages from nearly 70 providers. Northrim said the interoperability was one of the reasons it selected the vendor.
The bank will also use Digital Insight's growth and retention program, a suite of marketing tools and training programs aimed at boosting organic growth.
Kelly Lykins-Longlet, Northrim's vice president of electronic banking services, said in the vendor's press release that the agreement "positions Northrim Bank to better serve our customers and grow our business through the online channel."
