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S1 Corporation Announces First Annual
One-View
Customer Excellence Awards
Recipients at Catalyst 2003
First Niagara, Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union
and Farm Bureau Bank
Honored for Innovative Use
of Technology to Achieve Significant Business Results
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2003--S1 Corporation (Nasdaq: SONE), a
leading global provider of Enterprise solutions for the financial services
industry, today announced the winners of its first annual One View Customer
Excellence Awards at the Company's Catalyst customer forum in Orlando, Florida.
Judged by a panel comprised of industry experts hailing from top organizations
including IBM, Forrester Research, Celent Communications and BAI, the awards
were presented to institutions that have demonstrably excelled in implementing
S1 solutions to meet business objectives and improve operations.
First Niagara Bank was recognized with the S1 One View Excellence Award for
achieving immediate bottom line results across 39 branches and its telephone
service center in upstate New York, following the 2002 implementation of the S1
Personal Banking and S1 Business Banking solutions. Leveraging the S1 Enterprise
Platform, First Niagara has been empowered to establish one common
infrastructure for its consumer and commercial Web banking operations. The
Lockport, New York-based subsidiary of First Niagara Financial Group - a $3.6
billion financial institution - has achieved a higher level of customer service
and retention, a reduction in operating costs, and improved bank revenues as a
result of using S1's solutions.
"First Niagara is honored to accept this award, and we thank the judges
for deeming our efforts in this area worthy of such outstanding
recognition," said Frank J. Polino, senior vice president and chief
information officer for First Niagara Financial Group. "I can state
unequivocally that we are in better shape using S1's Enterprise Platform for our
Web channel than at any other time in our four-year history of delivering
customer-facing solutions over the Internet. EFT costs have been reduced and
retention rates are higher. In addition, our customers are benefiting from
real-time access to their data and synchronization with other delivery channels,
providing First Niagara with a competitive advantage in our primary markets for
the past 12 months."
S1's Technology Innovators Award was received by Eastern Financial Florida
Credit Union (EFFCU) from Miramar, Florida. The largest credit union in South
Florida, EFFCU has more than $1.7 billion in assets and 180,000 members
nationwide. The institution implemented S1 Teller, S1 Banking Call Center and
the S1 Sales and Service Platform, to achieve a more robust and efficient branch
system. EFFCU has demonstrated excellence in innovation using S1's Branch
Automation Solutions to achieve a heightened standard of customer service and
build stronger member loyalty. The credit union has enjoyed improved
productivity in its branch operation, increased accuracy with transaction
processing, and time and cost reductions to accomplish daily branch and teller
tasks.
"Our previous teller and platform solution offered very little with
regard to providing information about our members' overall relationship with the
credit union," said Sharon St. Clair, vice president and chief information
officer at EFFCU. "We were looking for a solution that would provide robust
member information and contact history, as well as help our staff understand
what products and services would most benefit the members. The S1 solution
enables that personal touch, and builds member confidence, trust and
loyalty."
Farm Bureau Bank, with its operation center located in San Antonio, Texas,
received S1's Customer Interaction Award for achievements in supporting its
primary customer interaction channels - Internet and phone - with S1's IBS and
Voice solutions. Farm Bureau has more than $350 million in assets and is
chartered to serve more than 4 million member families utilizing its banking
services in 42 states. Farm Bureau has leveraged the applications to achieve a
demonstrated increase in member adoption, with an annual average growth rate of
96 percent for new online banking users. S1's applications delivered a fully
functional, scalable solution with an initial low cost of entry to support Farm
Bureau's "direct bank" operational infrastructure. Since its customers
are not served through physical branches, the institution utilizes the
accessibility and integration of customer information delivered with S1's
solutions, enabling the bank to provide a secure and flexible remote banking
operation and personalized customer service.
"At the bank's inception, we required technology that would enable us to
level the playing field with larger retail banking institutions," said Mark
Cromer, senior vice president of operations at Farm Bureau Bank. "The S1
solutions have enabled us to set up and maintain a banking relationship with our
customers that rivals that of local banks, delivering transfers and other
functionality with the accessibility and ease of the Web. By offering
exceptional and personalized service, we are now in a position to compete with
other non-direct banks in our target areas."
"S1 was extremely pleased with the number of exemplary candidates we
received for the One View Customer Excellence Awards Program," said Jaime
Ellertson, chief executive officer of S1 Corporation. "We're honored to
select First Niagara, EFFCU and Farm Bureau Bank for their outstanding
innovation. Recognizing the varying ways in which S1 solutions can help
organizations to improve customer service, build loyalty and increase
revenue-generation opportunities, this awards program is designed to spotlight
the organizations leading the pack with innovative technology strategies. We are
excited to continue delivering leading solutions to these respected financial
institutions, and help them to achieve real business results."
About S1 Corporation
S1 Corporation (Nasdaq: SONE) is a leading global provider of enterprise
software solutions for more than 4,000 banks, credit unions and insurance
providers around the world. Comprised of applications that address virtually
every market segment and delivery channel, S1 solutions help integrate and
optimize an institution's entire front office, resulting in increased
operational efficiencies, revenue opportunities and overall customer
satisfaction. S1 is the only provider with the proven experience, breadth of
products and financial strength to empower financial services companies'
enterprise strategies. Additional information about S1 is available at www.s1.com.
Contacts:
S1 Corporation, Atlanta
Investor Relations
Matt Hale, 404-923-3500
matt.hale@s1.com
or
SHIFT Communications for S1 Corporation
Brian Gendron, 617-681-1226
bgendron@shiftcomm.com