Former Minnesota On-Line Credit Union Customers Overwhelmingly Choose FiTECH Systems for Processing.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--

11 of 14 credit unions select FiTECH Systems:

Windows(tm) Format and Ease of Use Cited

When 14 credit unions learned that their service bureau, Minnesota On-Line, was no longer going to support them, they had to move quickly to find a system and a service bureau that would fulfill their needs now and into the next millenium.

Former members of Minnesota On-Line learned late last year that corporate parent FiServ was going to shut down the data processing center. They contacted technology consultant Fred Alonzi, with whom many of them were already working, to determine a selection process for new data processing software and a service bureau. "We looked at seven critical factors to determine which would be the best solution now and for the future," Alonzi said.

Those seven criteria were:

-- Product -- Pricing -- Customer service -- Corporate direction and corporate health -- Conversion/implementation success -- Third-party interfaces -- Member benefits

"They used a well-thought out decision process," said Mark Roberson, senior vice president of sales and marketing of FiTECH Systems. "They really used some advanced planning in making the selection. They had seven different criteria and a ratings scale for each. They wanted a comprehensive solution." In category after category, FiTECH rated best. That's why 11 of 14 institutions chose to convert to the FiTECH system. Those conversions are in various stages of completion. The most often cited reason for choosing FiTECH's MANAGER GOLD(tm) was the ease of use of the Windows-based system. Many of the products offered by competitors were DOS-based or "Windows look-alike" systems that would need major changes to work with Windows 95, Windows 98 and future versions of the product.

"The FiTECH system was the most up-to-date," said Roy Meythaler, president of $20 million Horizon Credit Union, Racine, Wis., with 4,600 members in Racine and Kenosha counties. "The Windows system makes it easy to use the accounting software and to plan to meet our needs."

The FiTECH MANAGER GOLD system also gave Horizon Credit Union the ability to set up different savings plans for members, while establishing an excellent credit risk model for the financial institution itself. "It also gives us a very simple loan processing mechanism," Meythaler said. "Shortly after the initial interview, the loan applicant will be finished with the papers and be ready to walk out the door. It really meets the needs of a small credit union like ours." It also meets the needs of a growing credit union, said Cathy Biljan, president of $45 million Heartland Credit Union, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

"We're experiencing rapid growth, so we wanted a system we would eventually be able to migrate to an in-house system if we decided to go in that direction."

This credit union wanted a system that was simple to use so it could concentrate on growing business, not on learning software. "With the Windows platform, you can see everything up front," added Pam O'Connell, director of finance for $27.5 million Pillar Federal Credit Union, Minneapolis, which serves Pillsbury employees around the world. "It's a very user-friendly system."

About FiTECH

FiTECH Systems has specialized in providing credit union data processing solutions since 1977. Beginning with MANAGER and continuing with its current flagship product, MANAGER GOLD, FiTECH offers a complete range of on-line and in-house services to credit unions. MANAGER GOLD is a Windows-based data processing system that offers credit unions user-friendly, graphical on-line delivery. It features components vital for credit union automation: advanced cross selling and sales tracking, signature and photo identification, on-line help, integrated loan origination and general ledger accounting.

For more information on FiTECH Systems (FiTECH) contact Claire Stenger, marketing support manager, at 1-800-275-4374 or write to FiTECH Systems, 3098 Piedmont Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30305. The FAX number is [phone]. FiTECH's Web site can be viewed at www.fitech.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Please note the use of capital letters in both the company and product names. FiTECH Systems is the Atlanta-based provider of data processing solutions to credit unions with the above spelling differentiating it from other companies using similar names.