Internet banking platform designed for community institutions.

• Position: New Products

When BPC Holding Co. in Cookeville, Tenn., considered an Internet banking system for its two community bank subsidiaries, managers hesitated because of potential drawbacks.

"When you use one of the Larger Internet banking providers, you're locked into housing private account information on their systems--outside the bank's control," said David Williamson, executive vice president of BPC. "That was one of the biggest issues that prevented BPC from getting involved in Internet banking sooner." BPC is the parent company of Bank of Putnam County and Cumberland County Bank, two community banks with total assets of $400 million.

The holding company eventually selected Compass Internet Banking Platform from Beacon Software, Atlanta. Williamson said that the Compass product provided a customized, in-house platform with which the bank controlled the firewalls, the content as well as access to the system. The system reduced much of the risk that the bank was originally worried about, he added.

Beacon Software says that the Compass integrated software suite is designed with community banks in mind. Its capabilities include retail banking, business banking, bill payment, bill...