Guide to the TechWeb Network






 


JPMorgan Chase Seeks To Triumph with ARC

By Ivan Schneider
Bank Systems & Technology
March 17, 2003

JPMorgan Chase, in conjunction with J&B Software, Blue Bell, Pa., has established a firm foothold in the market for accounts receivable check conversion (ARC) solution at retail lockbox providers.

"We have a major credit card issuer who's processing millions of transactions through it, and we're very quickly signing up other of big lockbox processors," said Marcie Haitema, president and CEO, JPMorgan Chase ACH. "We've married check expertise with ACH expertise and have been able to bridge both worlds for ARC."

Check conversion at the lockbox eliminates the need for the physical check to move to a financial institution. Checks collected by companies such as credit card companies, utilities or telecom providers can be scanned into image files, and then converted into an automated clearinghouse (ACH) transaction. "In the paper environment, it could take seven to 10 days to get a return item notification back," said Haitema. If your company is managing risk carefully, that's a long time to wait."

"In the electronic arena, the ACH returns come back in a matter of a couple of days," Haitema added. "The benefit on the risk management side is substantial."

Once the checks are converted into ACH transactions, they can be destroyed. That's because the conversion changes the overriding regulations from those governing checks to those promulgated through the rulemaking procedures of NACHA, the National Automated Clearing House Association.

One of the biggest challenges involved with ARC at the lockbox was dealing with the various ways that banks encode information on the magnetically encoded MICR line. "There are standards for a check, but how the MICR line is formatted can vary tremendously," said Haitema. "Some have symbols in the line, some embed the check number in one place and some embed it in another place."

"Our expertise is being able to identify that quickly to get it built into a routine, so that as many items as possible can be converted," said Haitema.

Another benefit for a lockbox operator is the ability to scale down operational costs just as customers increasingly seek efficient electronic alternatives. "Electronic payments, going to the web site, calling up on the telephone--as these applications increase, this is a natural way to take costs out of the system," said Haitema.

This article originally appeared in Bank Systems & Technology eNEWS,a weekly e-mail newsletter. To order a free subscription, click here: http://www.submag.com





PRINT THIS ARTICLE
E-MAIL THIS ARTICLE



Wake-Up Call
Swift & U.S. Government: Perfect Together?

Read more about recent Swift initiatives and programs







BANK SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY CAREER CENTER
Function:
Information Technology
Engineering

Keyword(s):

State:
Post Your Resume
Employers Area
News & Features
Blogs & Forums
Career Resources

Browse By:
State | City
Most Recent Posts: open | close





WHITEPAPERS
Opening Act - Streamlining a bank’s account-opening process can have a dramatic effect on customer experience and the bottom line
This can help banks grow revenue; improve margins by reducing cost; optimize capital by opening the way to outsourcing; and better manage risk by driving regulatory compliance and greater financial predictability.

Essentials of CRM for Commercial Banking
Learn how commercial banks can use CRM strategies and technology to maximize client value, become trusted advisors, and streamline operations, contributing to top-line and bottom-line revenues and gaining strategic insight.

This free weekly e-mail newsletter delivers the latest news and insight—and more—from FTN.

A listing of the most
popular areas of our site

Our Buyers' Guide is a must-have list full of vendor and product details for hundreds of vendors in more than 20 critical market-specific categories. Shouldn't you be browsing the Buyers' Guide before you make that decision? Shouldn't your company and its product be in the guide? It's FREE.



IT Management Strategies Online Resource Center
How can banks can manage their information technology (IT) infrastructures and resources more effectively, efficiently and strategically? This new online Resource Center explores the challenges retail and wholesale banks face in managing and optimizing their technology operations and resources, including:
  • Data center configuration
  • Updating core systems and maximizing enterprise systems
  • Identifying IT assets including hardware, software and networks
  • IT governance and project management


  • Face-to-Face Events:
    October 02, 2008
    Accelerating Wall Street 2

    October 19-22, 2008
    Bank Systems & Technology's 3rd Annual Executive Summit







    techweb
    Online Communities TechWebInformationWeekLight ReadingIntelligent EnterprisebMightyNetwork ComputingDark ReadingDigital LibraryWall Street & Technology
    Byte & SwitchNo JitterInternet EvolutionLight Reading's Cable Digital NewsContentinopleUnStrungBank Systems & TechnologyAdvanced TradingInsurance & Technology
    Face-to-Face Events
    InteropWeb 2.0 ExpoWeb 2.0 SummitVoiceConBlack HatCSISoftwareEntrprise 2.0 ConferenceGTEC
    Mobile Business Expo
    InformationWeek 500 ConferenceBuy Side Trading XchangeBuy Side Trading SummitBank Executive SummitInsurance Executive SummitTelcoTVEthernet ExpoOptical Expo
    Magazines  
    InformationWeekWall Street & TechnologyInsurance & TechnologyBank Systems & TechnologyAdvanced TradingMSDNTechNetSmart EnterpriseThe Architecture JournalDatabase Magazine
     
    Research & Analyst Services  
    Heavy ReadingInformationWeek ReportsInformationWeek Analytics
     
       
       
    Ed Cals  |  Contact Us  |  Reprints  |  Ad Info  |  Media Kit  |  Send Us Your Feedback  |  RSS