Though its shares have dipped into penny-stock territory, Intelidata Technologies Corp. has sold its Internet- and personal-computer-based banking software to Citibank and others in recent weeks.
The low stock price did not deter BB&T Corp., Mid-Atlantic Corporate Federal Credit Union, and five other new customers besides Citibank from buying its products, Intelidata said. It declined to name the other five.
Intelidata is best known for its Interpose software, which links back- office banking systems to personal computer and Internet banking applications.
Its stock has sunk since the company went public at $10 in November 1996. It bottomed out at 63 cents a share In early August and was trading Wednesday at $1.06.
"Whether it is on-line banking or buying a car, people need to think about whether a company is going to be around after they sign up," said Gary Arlen, president of Arlen Communications Inc. in Bethesda, Md.
BB&T officials said they selected Intelidata because Interpose had a successful track record.
"The Interpose Financial Engine is in its third generation and has been well tested at several other institutions," said Paal Kaperdal, vice president of on-line banking at $32 billion-asset BB&T.
Interpose has 24 bank users, including Banc One Corp., Fleet Financial Group, KeyCorp, and National City Corp.
The software's ability to support OFX, the Open Financial Exchange protocol, was important, Mr. Kaperdal said. That lets BB&T link its Internet banking service with other companies' software packages-Intuit Inc.'s Quicken, Microsoft Corp.'s Money, and Home Financial Network Inc.'s HomeATM.
Intelidata executives say they have turned a corner by abandoning an ill-fated foray into the caller-ID equipment business and focusing exclusively on home banking. The share price jumped to $1.31 last week on news that the second-quarter loss was only $1 million-lower than last year's $1.5 million.
Revenue fell to $2.1 million, from $3.2 million.
"The track record has shown Intelidata to be fairly nimble at reinventing itself," said Mr. Arlen, who did consulting work for the Herndon, Va.-based company when it was known as U.S. Order.
Restructuring efforts should help the company achieve break-even status this year, said John Backus, president and chief executive officer of Intelidata.
"I don't think anyone who has been a buyer of our products has voiced concern over our stock price," Mr. Backus said.
