ATLANTA, Feb. 16, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Partners Trust Bank, a subsidiary of Partners Trust Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRTR), has expanded its relationship with John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) to include HarlandImpact(SM), a marketing solution combining business intelligence with the checkbook to promote a financial institution's brand and products.
HarlandImpact provides an innovative and highly effective means to boost marketing performance by inserting intelligence-driven marketing messages into the accountholder's check order. Targeted messages are developed by combining a financial institution's marketing data with Stratics(TM), Harland's proprietary predictive behavioral models. The messages are then inserted into the end-user's check order using Harland's digital print technology, the most advanced in the industry.
One of ten new clients scheduled for implementation in the first quarter of 2005, Partners Trust Bank adds to an expanding list of clients using HarlandImpact to enhance marketing performance.
Based in Utica, New York, Partners Trust Bank recently acquired BSB Bancorp, Inc. As a result of this acquisition, Partners Trust has grown in assets to $3.7 billion with gross loans of $2.2 billion and total deposits of $2.3 billion.
"With the acquisition of BSB Bank complete, Partners Trust has a broader geographic presence and a unique opportunity to build customer relationships," said Richard S. Callahan, senior vice president of retail banking. "We see HarlandImpact as an effective way to promote the Partners Trust brand and to reinforce our commitment to providing our customers broader products and services, as well as greater convenience."
In addition to HarlandImpact, Partners Trust uses four other Harland products and services including checks and forms, Laser Pro(R) lending compliance solution and Touche Analyzer(TM), part of the Touche(R) Customer Relationship Management solution that analyzes customers' needs and behaviors.
"In the case of an acquisition, such as the one Partners Trust has just completed, HarlandImpact is particularly effective in building brand loyalty and strengthening customer relationships," said Steve Albright, vice president of marketing and general manager of checks and forms for Harland Printed Products, a division of Harland. "We are pleased that this solution will help Partners Trust achieve key marketing objectives within its broader footprint."
About Partners Trust Bank
Partners Trust Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRTR), headquartered in Utica, New York, is the holding company for Partners Trust Bank, founded in 1839. Partners Trust Bank offers a wide variety of business and retail banking products as well as a full range of trust, investment, and municipal banking services through its 36 Central and Southern New York locations in Oneida, Onondaga, Herkimer, Broome, Tioga and Chenango counties.
About Harland
Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) (http://www.harland.net) is a leading provider of software and printed products to the financial and educational markets. Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. (http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, supplies software and services, including customer relationship management, deposit and loan origination, core systems and mortgage services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes. Harland's printed products offerings include checks, analytical services, direct marketing and financial forms. Scantron Corporation (http://www.scantron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of both paper and electronic-based services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the financial, commercial and educational markets.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act.