First Tech Credit Union Partners With SensCom Inc. to Launch Wireless Banking Services.

Business Editors

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2000

First Tech Credit Union announced today that it has signed on with technology provider SensCom Inc. to bring wireless Internet banking to all of its members.

Services available through First Tech's wireless Internet banking will include review of account balances, account history, transfer of funds, and loan payments.

San Diego-based SensCom Inc., a leading application service provider (ASP) that enables Hand-Held Banking(SM), will provide First Tech with the gateway services to enable secure wireless Internet banking transactions. First Tech will now be able to offer its members wireless Internet banking transactions on web-enabled cell phones, Palm Pilots(R), and in the near future, the Microsoft Win CE(R) platform.

"We see the addition of this technology as an example of our commitment to value-added service," said Thomas Sargent, chief executive officer for First Tech Credit Union. "The wireless Internet banking offering will enable our members to securely access their accounts in real time from anywhere, 24 hours a day. It is First Tech's goal to enhance delivery system options by offering expanded remote delivery services to maximize member convenience. Wireless Internet banking is a low-cost way to provide financial information services and fits well with this objective."

First Tech is known as a leader in the credit union industry for introducing new financial services technology to its members. International Data Corp. (IDC), an information technology research firm, predicts skyrocketing numbers of wireless Internet users between now and 2003, stating subscribers for wireless Internet in the United States will jump from 560,000 in 1999 to 73.1 million in 2003. IDC also forecasts that by the end of 2002, there will be more wireless subscribers capable of Internet access than wired Internet users.

"The company is very pleased to have an integral role in making wireless banking easy and accessible for First Tech, a credit union so committed to providing its members with value-added financial services," said SensCom CEO Tarek Fouad.

About First Tech Credit Union:

First Tech is a $700 million, state-chartered credit union based in Beaverton, Oregon. They serve over 70,000 members through seven physical branches in Oregon and Washington and one global branch at www.1sttech.com.

About SensCom:

SensCom enables financial institutions to offer wireless Internet financial services to their customers by developing, hosting, managing, and maintaining wireless Internet services. SensCom acts as a gateway between financial institutions' systems and their customers' wireless devices over the wireless Internet. Using a web-enabled wireless device, consumers are able to check account balances, review account history, transfer funds, and pay bills. More information about SensCom can be found on the company's web site at www.senscom.com.