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FIRST INTERNET BANK OF INDIANA RANKS FOURTH IN GOMEZ RATINGS
Internet-Only Bank Moves From Tenth to Fourth on Gomez Ratings
and is Praised for its Customer First Attitude
Indianapolis, IN, October 29, 1999 First Internet
Bank of Indiana (First IB) this week jumped six places to number
four in Overall Score in the newest edition of the Internet Banker
Scorecard, published online by Gomez Advisors Inc.
First IB also captured the scorecard's top ranking in On-Site Resources,
the category that rates the range and depth of a bank's online offering.
This is the Bank's first top-five finish overall and its second
win in the On-Site Resources category. First Internet Bank, which
only opened its e-doors in February 1999, has quickly become one
of the most competitive and highly ranked banks on the Internet.
Gomez Advisors Inc., a leading industry analyst for online financial
and e-commerce services, based First IB's rating on its ability
to provide access to a broad suite of loan and savings products
in addition to the standard checking accounts.
First IB's rating in the Internet Banker Scorecard has improved
steadily since it received a number 20 overall score in the first
quarter scorecard and a number 10 overall score in the second quarter
scorecard. Since then, the comprehensive Internet-only bank has
topped banks including Bank One, Huntington, Citibank, Bank of America,
and Wingspanbank.com as it has expanded its product line and enhanced
the functionality of its website.
"By designing First IB around its customers, we have developed
a particularly extensive line of banking products," said David
B. Becker, Chairman and CEO of First Internet Bank. "We were
ranked number one in On Site Resources when we opened our doors
and maintain that position today."
Becker cited its recent ATM Surcharge Refund program as just one
such customer-focused initiative. Each month, First IB refunds up
to $6 per customer for surcharges incurred at other banks' ATMs.
The Bank, which owns no ATMs and operates no branches, instituted
the refund to make banking more convenient and affordable for its
customers.
"Since our launch earlier this year, we have made important
changes to our accounts and our website, and we will continue to
refine and improve our offering to our customers. Our customers
truly are our most important asset," added Becker.
According to Gomez Advisors, the 78 institutions polled for this
edition of the Internet Banker Scoreboard offer their retail customers
Web-based account lookup, transfers, and bill payment, functionality
that goes beyond that offered by most US banks. Currently, the Scorecard
focuses on Internet-only banks and banks with $2 billion or more
in deposits. The complete Internet Banker Scorecard is available
through the Gomez Web site at http://www.gomez.com.
About firstib.com
First IB offers a full suite of banking services that includes
checking, money market savings, certificates of deposit, loans,
bill payment services, credit cards, and ATM and check cards. Through
an affiliation with E-LOAN, First IB makes competitive mortgage
products available to its customers. In addition, First IB will
be introducing a line of IRAs in November.
First IB offers significant customer benefits over traditional
retail banks including real-time processing of all transactions
and continuous services available 24/7 via the Internet, ATM, and
touch-tone phone. Customers also enjoy industry leading interest
rates on checking, savings, money markets and certificates of deposit.
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, First Internet Bank is the first
state-chartered Internet bank with accounts insured by the FDIC.
It is the first "Extended Value Online Bank" to deliver
a full range of real-time Internet banking products with personalized
interactive services, as well as offering competitive rates. Its
business model enables customers to conduct Internet banking sessions
in a real-time environment and to better manage their own finances.
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