Photo by Dave Boyd

Carter County Bank to launch online banking

By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com

   Carter County Bank is now testing its newest product, online banking, which will be launched in April.
   Carter County Bank's Marketing Director Rebecca White says those who want to bank online through Carter County Bank will have to own or have access to a computer. They will also need online access through an ISP such as AOL, Charter, or Net Access, and a browser like Netscape or Internet Explorer.
   Customers are asked to complete an online application with their basic information, White said. "Or they can come into the bank and fill out the application if they feel more comfortable doing it that way. After they receive their password and user ID, they can start."
   Online banking through Carter County Bank is safe, White said. "So far, we've worked on that for six months. We've researched companies to help assist us with this product. We've made sure that we've picked one of the best in the nation. We've checked their security, and they have many, many processes of security there.
   "Plus, we have our own security processes as well. If for some reason something were to happen, we would check it out. Usually, the customer is only liable for the first $50, which is the same as it would be for your Visa or MasterCard.
   "We've checked out everything, including the employees here that will be working with the product. We have several security measures in place to make sure that whoever is signing on is actually our customer."
   An on-line demonstration is available for those who want to look at online banking without actually opening an account, according to White. "They'll be able to view all account activities," she said. "They'll be able to transfer funds between their accounts. They'll be able to pay bills to anybody, not just to the major companies. You can pay online here and have a check sent to your babysitter, the man who cuts the grass, etc."
   The service will be free until April 2003. After that, a nominal fee will be charged for the service, White said. "I think the average American household pays 12-18 bills a month, and with online banking, you don't have to pay postage. It saves you money there, plus it saves you time.
   "We have places on here where you can reorder your checks. You don't have to come into the bank. You don't have to call. You don't have to fill out anything. You just go in here and say, give me new checks and start with this number, and they send the checks to you in the mail. It automatically debits out of your checking account, and you don't have to worry about it. We're pretty excited about it."
   Reprints of checks and statements are also available online, according to White. "Enter the check number and the date that the check posted, and we will send it to you in the mail, or we will hold it here for you to come and pick up," she said.
   Carter County Bank will have "a phone number with two people dedicated just for questions or problems that our customers are having with online banking. They can also come in to any branch location to get the information that they need."
   According to Grant Thornton's Eighth Annual Survey of Community Bank Executives published last March, 75 percent of U.S. banks now have a Web site. In 1999, only 55 percent of the banks had Web sites. Fifty-two percent of the banks offer customer ability to monitor account balances and transfer funds, and 41 percent offer online bill payment.
   According to the Gartner Group's report in February of last year, by the end of 2004, 35 percent of companies will bill online.
   For more information, call 543-2131, visit the bank's Web site, www.cartercountybank.com, or e-mail info@cartercountybank.com.