Bank of Ann Arbor Enhances Bank Services Using Ultra-Fast 3Com Networking Solution.

Business/Technology Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2001

Fast-Growing, Community Bank Expedites Delivery of Key Teller 

and Loan Services and Improves Internal Operations Using

High-Speed 3Com Solution

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced that Bank of Ann Arbor, a fast-growing community bank serving Ann Arbor, MI, and surrounding areas, has installed 3Com's high performance networking solution to support its new Internet banking service and enhance its teller and loan services. Used at the bank's main office and new Traver Village branch, the 3Com(R) networking solution is speeding up transactions, access to account information and review of loans, resulting in more responsive customer service.

"Our mission is to provide our customers with fast, efficient service for all of their banking needs," said Jeff Stanton, Bank of Ann Arbor's IT manager. "Using 3Com's solution, we've expedited every network application, enabling us to fulfill our commitment to our customers and to sustain our growth."

Founded in 1996, Bank of Ann Arbor is the city's only locally owned and operated financial institution. Since then, the bank has set itself apart from competitors by combining new technologies with personalized service. In addition to traditional products, such as mortgages and investment allocations, the 51-employee institution provides advanced conveniences such as telephone banking, online banking and ATM services. Bank of Ann Arbor today has more than $180 million in assets.

Fueled by 3Com's networking solution, the bank is accelerating its most important customer services using powerful banking applications. Chief among these are EZ Teller, which enables tellers to rapidly complete transactions by instantly displaying details of account activity on their workstations. The network is also streamlining the bank's Concentrex lending application, allowing staff to swiftly access loan compliance information related to secure, unsecured and revolving lines of credit. The application enables employees to quickly complete the paperwork for every loan.

Bank of Ann Arbor additionally relies on 3Com solutions to drive Northern Trust's Microsoft Windows-based Trustrite System, allowing its staff to monitor customers' investment portfolios and movements of funds. It also utilizes Account Processor to track and prepare documents for commercial accounts, including CDs and money markets. The network-based program produces demographic analyses, enabling the bank to make more informed marketing decisions regarding its products and services. The bank utilizes Microsoft Office's general office automation suite and Microsoft Exchange for email capabilities.

The 3Com networking solution further delivers a faster, more reliable connection to the bank's mainframe service provider, where most of its core processing software resides. 3Com systems also support the bank's growth plans to add more branches and will facilitate several online banking services the bank expects to introduce in 2001.

"3Com is giving us the reliable, fast and simple communications we need to deliver our existing and new-generation customer services," said Stanton. "Using the 3Com networking solution, we have the technology we need to optimize today's applications and the scalability to keep our business going and growing."

Scalable, High-Speed Network Geared for Growth

Bank of Ann Arbor's new network resulted from its need to speed its customer services, including its new Web-based products. Having previously used shared Ethernet hubs, the bank's prior network was prone to bottlenecks and on occasion slowed teller services to customers. The bank considered products from Hewlett-Packard, Netgear and 3Com, and chose 3Com after a successful trial period because of the superior price/performance of its SuperStack(R) switching solutions.

"3Com's networking technology offered several advantages for a small bank such as ours," said Stanton. "The SuperStack solution allows us to prioritize time-sensitive information for our customers. It also lets us optimize network traffic for our departments - two capabilities that allow us to grow without replacing our infrastructure."

Bank of Ann Arbor's 3Com network is powered by several SuperStack switches, supported by SuperStack hubs, Fast EtherLink(R) network interface cards (NICs) and 3Com's quality customer service organization. Bank of Ann Arbor also uses 3Com's Transcend(R) Network Supervisor management application, enabling administrators to easily map, monitor and configure all 3Com network systems.

"Customer satisfaction is the key to our success," said Stanton. "Thanks to 3Com's switching technology and performance we have the efficient, reliable data communications we need to sustain our service excellence and to continue to expand our business."

About 3Com Corporation

3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use, connectivity products and solutions for consumers and commercial organizations. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com and SuperStack, EtherLink and Transcend are registered trademarks of 3Com. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.