NEWS BRIEFS

BancTec Sells Imaging Product.

BancTec Inc. of Dallas is shipping an integrated image-based check processing product that handles all check processing functions. BancTec says with the ImageFirst system checks, are scanned into the system, so handling of paper checks is eliminated. All queries on items are handled on employee workstations using digital check images. The ImageFirst product gives financial institutions remote check capability, proof-of-deposit, intelligent character recognition, power ending, backend capture, exception item processing, image-reject repair and image check statements, BancTec officials say. The company is marketing the software to large international banks, community banks with more than $1 billion in assets and data processing centers. The product will simplify those institutions capture sorting and balancing functions, BancTec says. "{The software} allows the supervisor to structure the system to define specific criteria such as sort patterns, document definition, document validation and exception files," says Nolan Klier, director of marketing for BancTec. "Checks can also be tracked at any point in the process to allow the users to better manage resources and meet processing deadlines." ImageFirst uses a modular distributed client-server configuration, runs on a UNIX platform and uses Windows screens. The system operates on BancTec transports that handle between 400 and 1,700 documents a minute. (Norman Klier, BancTec Inc., 214/450-7753.) Mellon Images Wholesale Lockbox.

Mellon Global Cash Management of Pittsburgh, Pa., is enhancing its wholesale lockbox system to allow it to handle payment documents electronically. The Mellon work station scans and digitizes lockbox transaction documents, such as check stubs, invoices, correspondence and envelopes. The images are placed in an image-based storage system. Wholesale lockbox systems often have to be customized to accommodate different accounts and payment documents. Mellon's Unified Versatile Document Processing System also lets users send images to lockbox customers electronically or via CD-ROMs. Mellon is piloting the product with Boston-based The Gillette Co. {G} (Mellon, 800/758-5804.) InterCept Buys Bank Services.

The InterCept Group of Atlanta has acquired Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Bank Services Corp. Bank Services is an item and data processing service and software provider. InterCept is a financial holding company that includes a hardware maintenance firm, item and data processing providers and electronic funds transfer providers. The company says its new accession will expand its customer base and let it offer the latest technology to its community bank customers. "The acquisition of Bank Service Corp., its PC BancPAC software product and customer base strengthen The InterCept Group's national presence and marketshare," says John Collins, InterCept's chairman and chief executive officer. InterCept will maintain Bank Services' Colorado Springs and Denver facilities. (Bank Services, 800/808-6966; John Collins, The InterCept Group; 770/242-7171.) Fiserv Appoints New Officers.

Brookfield, Wis.-based Fiserv Inc. has named William Hutton to be the company's new senior vice president of consultant relations. Hutton will head the new Corporate Consultants Relations Program, which informs the consulting industry on Fiserv's business strategy. Hutton will be based in Dallas. In other news, Fiserv also appointed Chuck Doherty to be its corporate director of the company's business unit public relations division. In his new position, Doherty will advise business units on their public relations plans and related marketing communications. (Kevin Kasper, Fiserv Inc., 414/879-5129.)