Ada, Oklahoma Bank Places its Confidence in Networking
By Marsha Cansler
The year was 1924. The cotton industry, upon which Oklahomans had depended for their livelihood, had hit rock bottom. The ripple effect of this economic disaster was felt throughout the state.
Desperately clinging to the few resources they had, residents in the small town of Ada turned to the bank that had faithfully served their tight-knit community for 24 years. When it was learned that the trusted financial institution was insolvent, fear began to take a foothold. Then, on October 30th, there was an all-out run on the bank. The stage was set for tragedy, but this story has an ending from which Hollywood movies are made.
A gentleman by the name of P.A. Norris stood on a chair in the bank's lobby and quieted the crowd with his reassuring announcement. As a former owner of the bank, he promised to repurchase the floundering institution. The customers' money would be safe. Based on Mr. Norris' respected reputation, the people of Ada went home with a newfound confidence.
It is a confidence that has withstood nearly three generations. Today, First National Bank & Trust Company has grown quite strong, serving Ada and the surrounding area with four branches, including a motor bank. The $250 million institution is not afraid of expansion - not if it means staying ahead of the competition and serving the community better. In this day and age, standing on a chair may get the attention of some. But technology and service is what will draw and keep loyal customers.
Networking Advances Technology
Jack Henry & Associates' network solutions group, Matrix Network Services, has consistently filled needs of First National Bank & Trust as it has added technology and branches. The bank's first encounter with the group was in the mid-1990s, when Network Services was still a part of BancTec Community Banking Division. This division was acquired by Jack Henry
in 1999.
"The Assessment was quite helpful in that it gave me a lot of information that I wasn't aware of in terms of equipment we would need for communications."
- Bruce James
Vice President of Technology
First National Bank & Trust
A desire to implement document imaging caused First National to investigate installation of a network solution. Vice President of Technology for the bank, Bruce James, recalls hiring Matrix Network Services for two reasons - confidence in the group's knowledge of the software running in the bank and confidence in the Matrix group staff. Confidence breeds confidence. The people of Ada can count on First National Bank because First National can count on its vendors.
Assessment Provides Answers
In early 2000, the Ada institution set out on its first out-of-town venture when it purchased two banks in the nearby towns of Prague and Meeker, Oklahoma. The addition of these two locations would raise First National's assets by more than 60% and put 50-60 new employees on the payroll. The bank needed to know that the network could handle the growth.
The bank naturally called on Matrix Network Services. The first order of business for the network provider was to perform an Assessment to determine the online needs to connect the two new branches. "The Assessment was quite helpful in that it gave me a lot of information that I wasn't aware of in terms of equipment we would need for communications,"
says Bruce James.
The bank was at an advantage due to the fact that the Matrix group had been contracted to do assessments on both the Prague and Meeker banks six to eight months before the acquisitions took place. In those analyses, recommendations had been made regarding computers, the NT network, wiring, routers - you name it. "All we did," says James, "was take those assessments and add them to what we had. It worked out very well."
Network Savings
In an effort to trim operating costs, First National Bank has found a way to stretch a dollar through the use of its phone system. Thanks to the efforts of Matrix Network Services, certain channels on the bank's T-1 line were established as telephone lines. That way, calls from Ada to the branches in Prague or Meeker are local.
"We are saving quite a bit of money," says James. To be able to just pick up the phone and dial an extension has been a godsend. When the out-of-town banks have a question for the technology department in Ada, they can talk to their heart's content - without racking up major phone bills.
Bank employees are saving another valuable resource as well - time. Rather than driving to the various branches to perform certain tasks, the staff of First National can work from their own PC's. James explains, "We use a communications software over the network so I can sit at my desk and work on a computer in Prague or Meeker." Looking at the big picture, he says, "Centralized processing made available by the network has really saved a lot on productivity and backroom operations."
Networking for the Future
The latest endeavor has been to upgrade the bank's core-processing system to Jack Henry's Core Director software. Once again, Matrix came in and performed a network certification to ensure proper wiring was in place. Because the Assessment had looked to future needs of the bank, everything was basically ready to go. Matrix' only suggestion was that a database server be added.
The next technology advancement will be Internet Banking. Jack Henry is stepping up to the plate with NetTeller OnLine Banking, its state-of-the-art software solution. The Matrix group will prepare the ISDN line and install the necessary network products.
Expert Support
When it comes to the Matrix group's service and support, James is confident he is dealing with experts. The engineer who works with the bank knows the networking system like the back of his hand. "The support staff at Jack Henry is incredibly knowledgeable and can break down a problem and relate a solution in a way that I can understand it," says James. Knowledge is empowerment. If bank employees understand an issue, perhaps in the future, they can solve it on their own.
"The support staff at Jack Henry is incredibly knowledgeable and can break down a problem and relate a solution in a way that I can understand it."
- Bruce James
The bank's positive experience with Jack Henry makes Bruce James quick to recommend the solution provider to others. "Based on the success we've had with the system, I can say that Jack Henry's expertise and resources would make them a good network and service provider for anyone."
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