THE BACK OFFICE: DO-IT-YOURSELF TREND

There is no shortage of trust processing systems on the market today, and many banks report that they are pleased with them.

John C. Hover 2d, an executive vice president at U.S. Trust in New York, for example, said, "We think we have a wonderful asset management system. And that enables our staff to be more efficient so (we) can in fact control head count."

But some observers say that comprehensive systems using the latest technology, including client/server networks of personal computers, remain elusive.

"There are many functionally rich software applications available on the market for trust," said Hal McIntyre, managing partner with the Summit Group, a New York-based consulting firm. "However, applications utilizing newer technologies are not yet functionally rich enough to satisfy a sophisticated user."

As a result, Mr. McIntyre said, many firms are trying to develop their own systems in-house.

He cited Bankers Trust New York Corp., which is in the midst of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar project to build what it calls Mars, for multicurrency accounting and reporting system.

The bank has said the system will be used for both institutional and personal trust.

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