Business Bank of Nevada Goes Online With Its New `Free' Internet Banking Service.

Business Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2000

Business Bank of Nevada today announced that it has launched its new "Always On" Internet banking service, making it one of the first community banks in Nevada to offer online banking service.

Additionally, the bank today announced that its new "Always On" Internet banking service would be a free service for a limited time. The new service can be accessed through the bank's Web site located at www.bbnv.com.

Over the last several months, Business Bank has been working with its Internet banking partner, Netzee, to introduce its new online service. Netzee is an Internet-provider company based in Atlanta that contracts specifically with community banks to help develop, design and maintain Internet banking Web sites. Netzee currently has a client base of more than 7,000 institutional clients throughout the country.

"We have spent a great deal of time and money developing our new Internet banking service, and we're excited about the added benefits and convenience this new service will provide to our customers," said Business Bank of Nevada President and Chief Executive Officer John Guedry. "We live in a fast-pace, convenience-oriented society, and while our new online service will never replace our high-quality personalized service, it does provide customers with the convenience of banking when, where and how they want to bank."

Guedry added that all too often banks and other retail businesses limit or restrict customers to when, where and how they want them to transact their banking or business needs. Business Bank's new online banking service now allows its customers access to the bank and their accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Business Bank customers can virtually conduct most any type of banking transaction they need and want to do via the Internet. These transactions include such things as viewing account information, transferring money between accounts, paying bills, ordering checks, account reconciliation, issuing stop payments, request loan applications and much more.

In November of this year, the bank will introduce its "Always On" Cash Management service that will enable business customers to order coin and currency, send wire transfers, create and import ACH files, download account information to money management software, direct deposits to an employee's account, and the payment of federal payroll taxes.

"While we don't consider the larger financial institutions as direct competitors, the launching of our new online banking service does put us on a more level playing field with the bigger banks in terms of offering the same products," Guedry said. "However, when it comes to personalized, face-to-face service, we are far and away more capable of providing a higher level of service customers want and deserve."

Business Bank plans to further enhance and develop both its Web site and Internet banking service over the coming months. "This is a work in progress, and with all of the changes being made daily in the computer industry, Business Bank wants to always be on the cutting edge of this technology," Guedry added.

Business Bank of Nevada is in its fifth year of operation and is one of the fastest-growing independent banks in the state. The bank has four branch offices in Nevada, with three in the Las Vegas area and one in Carson City. The bank has plans to open additional offices statewide in the near future. Business Bank is FDIC Insured and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and is listed over the counter (OTC) at ticker symbol BBNV.