Banking Infrastructure & Technology Services (BITS), the Technology and Telecommunications unit of Atlantic Central Bankers Bank (ACBB), Deploys AT&T's MPLS-Based Services for Network Redundancy and Traffic Routing Flexibility at Community Banks.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Capabilities Improve Efficiencies in Internal Business Operations 

Atlantic Central Bankers Bank subsidiary, Banking Infrastructure & Technology Services, (ACBB-BITS) will deploy AT&T's Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based services as part of its converged IP Network architecture offering for community banks under a new three-year agreement announced today. AT&T Enterprise Services, Inc. on behalf of AT&T Corp. sold the wholesale services to ACBB-BITS.

AT&T's MPLS-based services will provide network redundancy and greater flexibility in routing and controlling traffic flows, including voice, video, image and data into and between branch office and headquarters locations for ACBB-BITS' community bank customers. Through the MPLS Private Network Transport (PNT), AT&T segregates data traffic transmitted over the AT&T IP network using MPLS to create a network-based IP Virtual Private Network (VPN).

"The immediate advantage of using AT&T's MPLS-based services is the robust "any-to-any" network connectivity it provides through redundant connections between the BITS network clusters and our community bank customers and their branch offices," said Chuck Daniels, CEO of Banking Infrastructure & Technology Services. "MPLS also provides us with greater flexibility in controlling and routing traffic around any potential link failures, congestion or bottlenecks."

"AT&T's proven leadership in delivering MPLS-based services enables us to help companies like ACBB-BITS strengthen their network infrastructure," said Sherry Charles, vice president, AT&T Wholesale Marketing, AT&T Enterprise Services, Inc. "ACBB-BITS is now able to connect its community bank customers on multiple VPNs, helping to improve efficiencies in internal business operations."

Today's announcement is the latest in a string of recent contracts ACBB-BITS has concluded within the last month, including agreements with Cisco and VeriSign, among others. The agreements signal ACBB-BITS' success in enabling community banks throughout the mid-Atlantic region to transition from traditional "point-to-point" circuit-switched networks to state-of-the art "any-to-any" converged IP Telephony and Data networks. For community banks, the changeover represents greater operational efficiencies and enhanced customer service offerings, as well as potential cost savings.

About Banking Infrastructure & Technology Services

Banking Infrastructure & Technology Services (BITS), the technology and telecommunication subsidiary of Atlantic Central Bankers Bank, provides community banks with sophisticated converged networks and advanced IP Telephony. By leveraging the power of 500 ACBB members to negotiate lower costs, BITS provides community banks with a single, trusted source and solution for advanced IP voice and data communications. With offices in Newark, New Jersey, and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, BITS serves community banks throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. Information about BITS can be found at http://www.acbb-bits.com

About Atlantic Central Bankers Bank

The mission of Atlantic Central Bankers Bank (ACBB) is to assist community banks in competing more effectively through enhanced credit and noncredit services while leveraging its aggregation capabilities. Originally chartered in 1983 as Pennsylvania Independent Bank, ACBB was formed from the initial capital provided by 73 community bank shareholders. The name was later changed in 1992 to more accurately reflect their marketplace and those of the shareholders in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Headquartered in Camp Hill, ACBB is a Pennsylvania state-chartered, Federal Reserve member bank serving over 300 shareholder banks in addition to many non-shareholder banks. Information about ACBB can be found at http://www.atlanticcentral.com