Banking Done Friendly hat does it mean to be "West Texas Friendly," the

term Bank of Texas uses to describe itself on its Web site? "Knowing and valuing our relationships with each customer, personalized and efficient service and local decision making," CFO Phyllis Bechner says.

Bank of Texas has only been known by its current name since February of 2010, but its history dates back nearly 50 years. In 1962 the Kent County State Bank was established, and it continues to operate today from the old First National Bank Building in Jayton. With $110 million in assets, Bank of Texas has locations in Midland, El Paso and Jayton.

Having the right technology is essential to providing the level of service Bank of Texas prides itself on. Since September of 1998, the bank has had a business relationship with eBank Systems. Founded in 1997 by Dave Boren, the Lubbock, Texas-based solutions provider specializes in delivering complete turnkey solutions for community banks. Trinisys, its core processing application, is built on the

same IBM iSeries eServer line of hardware installed in more than 16,000 banks worldwide. Partnering with industry leaders such as Beacon Systems (for Internet banking), Fifth Third (ATM processing) and MEA Financial (mobile banking) allows eBank Systems to offer a complete banking solution. On May 13, 2011, TriNovus announced it would acquire eBank Systems. TriNovus CEO David Brasfield praised the eBank Systems technology platform and support staff.

Trinisys was designed to save time and money. Presenting all customer information in an interface reminiscent of a well organized file folder reduces both the drill down to search for needed information as well as the number of screens to navigate. A

variety of information is accessible from inside each account, including related accounts, ACH history, PDF statements, check images and account maintenance. Trinisys eliminates excessive keystrokes across organizations, which can save thousands of dollars over the life of a core processing contract. Another way eBank Systems helps save money: Replacing legacy systems with the latest technology, reducing hardware maintenance costs and overhead.

The fully integrated, fully featured platform Trinisys eTeller streamlines all teller job functions, helping banks stay compliant with CTR and SAR reporting, keep track of savings bond redemptions and interface in real time with Trinisys to help prevent losses. In

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addition, eTeller has an optional interface with the Diebold Teller Cash Automatic Solution, which helps ensure cash drawers are balanced, makes teller traffic faster, eliminates human error and gives tellers more time to spend interacting with customers.

Completely integrated with eTeller, Trinisys Check Writer streamlines all check writing activities. Its fully customizable forms allow you to choose the graphics and wording and modify them at any time. Trinisys Check Writer can automate signatures based on user permission. Users can set amount thresholds allowing tellers to write checks up to a certain amount but requiring supervisor signatures for checks exceeding that amount. Account reconciliations can be performed and complete reconciliation reports printed with Trinisys Check Writer. Historical data on checks can be archived, reviewed and queried, while all information necessary for Monetary Instrument Log reporting can be automated, allowing you to stay compliant with BSA. Integration with Trinisys Accounts Payable allows all checks to be automatically imported.

Trinisys Accounts Payable, together with Trinisys Check Writer, eliminates inefficient manual processes in vendor management. With Trinisys Accounts Payable, you can maintain an unlimited number of vendors, pay vendors by check or ACH, send e-mails to vendors when you render payment, manage an unlimited number of invoices and create an unlimited number of breakouts per invoice. Paid invoices are automatically interfaced

to the General Ledger. Trinisys Accounts Payable also removes the necessity of manual searches, utilizing spreadsheets and paper logs by featuring a database of all vendor related activities.

"Responsiveness to our needs and requests," Bechner says when asked what Bank of Texas likes best about eBank Systems. "Their customer service is remarkable. We like being with a smaller company where our needs matter. We are a growing bank.

eBank has been responsive as we add or expand services to our customers. Their IT knowledge and guidance has been valuable."

There are several people with eBank Systems that Bank of Texas has had an exceptional experience with. "James Carruth is the first person that we met as we were finalizing the purchase of Kent County State Bank," Bechner says. "His in-depth knowledge of systems and his confidence that eBank could supply all of our IT needs started us on the path to consider eBank for more than just the core services currently utilized and ultimately convinced our management group to utilize eBank. I have to commend Melissa Clark and Deanene Hofacket on their daily service. They make us feel like we are their only customer."

What would Bechner say to banks considering using eBank Systems? "Responsiveness to market and regulatory changes are important to us and to eBank. This coupled with eBank's customer service makes a great package. Given their continuous customer service and responsiveness to our needs, I envision our relationship will be ongoing and mutually beneficial."