Integrated electronic bill services
Bank One has teamed with Integrion Financial Services (IFS) to offer integrated electronic bill services to its online banking customers. The linkup between the two organizations is the final piece in the bill payment jigsaw for Bank One customers. Bank One already works with CheckFree to offer online bill payment to its 300,000-plus online banking customers. IFS is now working with CheckFree to allow companies that accept bill payments through the CheckFree network to also route their bills for customers through the operation. For Bank One customers, who are the first to get access to this service, the plus point is convenience. For the companies dealing through CheckFree, meanwhile, the advantage is a reduction in the cost of billing (i.e. no printing and postage costs), as well as speedier access to payments. According to Bank One, until now, bill delivery has been a missing link in online banking. The new bill delivery service from Bank One enables customers to both receive and pay bills online through the Bank One Web site. B. Luecke, president of Interactive Delivery Services , a division of the Bank One Retail Group, says most online banking services only allow their customers access to bill payments online. "Now Bank One online customers are able to receive bills, pay bills and take advantage of one of the Web_s most comprehensive banks -- all in one place," he added. Along with the usual banking options, users will also see a new option to click to open bills (if any are waiting). Clicking on the option opens a Web-based version of their printed bills. So far, 15 organizations have agreed with Integrion to deliver their bills online through CheckFree and Bank One. Some of them are now listed on the Bank One Web site.