Bell Atlantic and City National Bank Partner to "Power Up" Internet Financial Services

Bell Atlantic and City National Bank announced a multi-million dollar deal to join forces and provide comprehensive Internet financial services to customers. The partnership brings together Bell Atlantic's telecommunications expertise and City National Bank's Internet and financial services to create a robust and reliable platform for online banking. This strategic arrangement enables City National Bank to leverage Bell Atlantic's customized, state-of-the-art Internet services network, which was specifically designed to support City Holding Company's growing customer base.

Key Takeaways:

• Bell Atlantic and City National Bank signed a multi-million dollar deal to provide comprehensive Internet financial services to customers.
• The partnership brings together Bell Atlantic's telecommunications expertise and City National Bank's Internet and financial services to create a robust and reliable platform for online banking.
• City National Bank will continue to handle billing, customer service, and other customer care activities under the agreement.
• The Data Solutions Group will provide dial-up services to CityNet's customers using Internet Protocol Routing Service (IPRS) and include advanced authentication systems, high-speed Internet access, and mailbox services.
• Bell Atlantic will begin migrating customers to "CityNet Powered by Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group" by late summer and will complete the transition by the end of the year.
• Joe Farina, Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group President and CEO, emphasized the importance of maintaining direct support to customers, stating that many companies want to take ownership of customers when providing Internet services.

Statistics:

• Since City Holding Company began offering at-cost Internet access and financial services to its customers via CityNet in 1998, they have added approximately 2,000 new accounts each month.
• The new partnership will enable City National Bank to serve an ever-growing customer base with no capital investment through the life of the contract.
• City Holding Company has a customer base of approximately 30,000 customers and plans to add 30 new customersper day with the new Internet services platform.

Sources:

• Steve Day, President and CEO of City Holding Company, was quoted in the announcement.
• Joe Farina, Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group President and CEO, was also quoted in the announcement.
• [www.ba.com] - Bell Atlantic's News Center (Internet users)
• [www.ba-dsg.com] - Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group
• [http://www.nasdaq.com] - The Nasdaq Stock Market (City Holding Company)
• [http://www.bell-atlantic.com] - Bell Atlantic news releases