Electronic Checks: Understanding Bank, Biller, and Consumer Intentions A Financial Insights Multiclient Study for Financial Institutions Prospectus
Electronic Checks: Understanding Bank, Biller and Consumer Intentions Financial Insights is pleased to announce a major research initiative that will uncover and explain the electronic check strategies being developed by leading banks and billers. This research is being offered as a multiclient study enabling sponsorship and input from industry participants. Market Overview.......................................... The interest in electronic check technology is reaching record levels within the financial services payments market segment which is being driven by several key factors: Declining Check Volumes: The Federal Reserve recently reported that the number of checks processed has fallen from 50 billion in 1995 to 43 billion in 2000, while Wachovia Bank disclosed in April 2003 that check volumes at the bank had declined 20% between 1999 and 2002. Accelerating Use of Electronic Funds Transfers: In 2002 NACHA approved a special transaction code, ARC (Accounts Receivable Entry), for use in converting consumer checks received at lockboxes into ACH electronic funds transfers. In the first quarter of 2003, almost 19 million ARC transactions were processed, a 153% increase over the prior quarter, and ACH transactions as a whole increased 14% in 2002 from the prior year. Legislative Action: Pending legislation, commonly referred to as Check 21, would give electronic checks the same legal status as paper checks. Once passed, it will be possible to present all checks electronically and create image replacement documents as a substitute for the original paper item. Cost Savings: Electronic checks enable banks to benefit from reduced check transportation costs and improved risk management. Billers benefit from quicker settlement, improving float and reducing the time required to process returned checks. Patterns of fraudulent activity can be detected earlier, limiting potential losses. Consumer Behavior: A key dependency is the behavior of consumers towards EBPP. The extent that consumers abandon checks in favor of electronic bill payment decreases the demand for check conversion. Before making purchase decisions on electronic check hardware and software, banks and solution vendors need to understand consumer intentions toward EBPP. These changes present significant challenges for banks, as many have yet to establish comprehensive strategies for electronic checks. Payment executives at large processing banks are under pressure to do something with electronic checks, but this decision is dependent in large part upon the choices made by other parties particularly leading banks, large billers, and consumers.
Benefits................................................. This study will provide sponsors with concrete data points into how banks, billers, and consumers are approaching the rise of electronic checks and payments and how electronic check legislation will affect their behaviors. By participating in the Financial Insights study your financial institution will benefit by: Having valid, objective data with which to plan IT investments By understanding the pace at which checks will be truncated and converted, business units can plan where to invest scarce IT dollars As check volumes decline, new products can be rolled out to increase revenues, and our data will help to project ROI and prioritize initiatives Understanding how your clients billers and consumers will react to check truncation and conversion Adjust product offerings to meet clients current and future needs Adopt policies and services that influence client behavior to maximize the bank s revenue and cost reduction potential Key Questions Answered.................................... This multiclient study will answer many essential questions, including: How are Tier 1 banks planning to support electronic checks? How will core system providers react? What percentage of checks will be converted, imaged, and/or truncated? How will electronic check technology change check processing? How will internal bank processes need to change? How will infrastructure be redeployed or purchased to support the new environment? Which investments are most likely to pay off for banks? What is the value proposition for outsourcing check processing? How will billers respond to the passage of electronic check legislation? What percent of billers plan to use electronic check technology? When? How will investments in electronic check technology be affected by electronic check legislation and improvements in underlying technology? What are the dependencies? What drives ROI for electronic check investments? How will EBPP and EIPP initiatives be impacted by growth in check conversion and truncation?
Methodology............................................. Understanding the behavior of banks, billers, and consumers toward electronic checks is the core objective of this study. Since banks are highly dependent on each other for check processing, any one bank s decision-making process is based, to a great extent, on what strategies the major banks are developing. However, before making significant investments in electronic check solutions, banks will need to understand the attitudes of billers and consumers. To achieve the study s objectives, Financial Insights will conduct two detailed primary surveys: 10 executive interviews with payment executives at top tier US banks and major third-party providers of check processing services to learn what decisions have been made regarding electronic check implementation, and the timing and process that will be followed. 250 in-depth phone interviews with large and medium volume billers in the US, to determine the level of awareness of options for electronic check collection, and how they intend to address the use of electronic check technology. All survey participants will be carefully pre-screened for their involvement in payment strategy planning for their company, their ability to influence systems purchasing decisions, and their knowledge of payments systems and strategies. Deliverables............................................. Executive Interview Findings Report a detailed summary of the findings from 10 in-depth interviews of payment executives from among the top tier US financial institutions and third-party processors. It will also include our commentary on trends, common themes and intentions. Biller Survey Report a quantitative analysis of the 250 biller surveys accompanied by Financial Insights detailed qualitative survey assessments. Survey responses will be cross-tabulated by industry type, company size, geographic region, and other important parameters. Check Imaging, Conversion and Truncation Market Forecast and Analysis Report study sponsors will be the first to receive in-depth volume and IT spending forecasts of the payments solution opportunity. This report will also incorporate our opinion of consumer electronic bill payment behavior over the next several years with rigorous market projections and trend analysis. And it will be available to sponsors two months before its general release. Analyst Presentation of Study Results lead analysts will conduct an interactive debriefing for all sponsors to discuss findings, recommended action plans, and to participate in a question-and-answer session.
Timing.................................................. The schedule for this multiclient study is timed to deliver essential information and guidance as your company plans its 2004 strategic initiatives. A series of rolling deliverables ensures critical findings are quickly delivered to study sponsors. Research Step Activity Performed Time Frame Step One Charter sponsor deadline July 18 Step Two Survey research starts July 28 Step Three Executive Interviews begin July 28 Step Four Survey research completed September 12 Step Five Executive Interview Report issued September 19 Step Six Biller Survey Report issued September 26 Step Seven Imaging Forecast & Analysis issued October 31 Step Eight Analyst Debriefing Sessions November December Sponsorship Levels........................................ Charter Sponsors $10,000 Sponsors who commit to the study before July 18 receive a discounted sponsorship price as well as an earlybird incentive package valued at $10,000. Charter sponsors are entitled to: Assist in developing the study s scope Active participation in survey design, including ability to review survey instruments and suggest survey questions 2 hard copies of all reports & electronic delivery of deliverables 1-hour private on site presentation of study results (valued at $10,000) Program Sponsors $15,000 Sponsors who commit after July 18 receive full study deliverables, including: 1 hard copy of all reports & electronic delivery of all deliverables A 1-hour web cast presentation of study results Note: Additional customized deliverables are available.
Project Team............................................. Jeanne Capachin, Research Director, Corporate Banking Jeanne Capachin focuses on corporate banking and business-to-business payments. Jeanne possesses a wealth of banking industry experience, with particular expertise in payments and wholesale banking. Prior to joining Financial Insights, Jeanne was director of education with the New England ACH Association (NEACH). In this position, Jeanne was responsible for the association s educational offerings. Prior to joining NEACH, Jeanne held positions in product management, operations management, and systems development and integration at Bank of Boston. Aaron McPherson, Research Manager, Payments Aaron McPherson specializes in the strategic implications of new technology for the retail payments industry. Aaron writes and consults with clients on a wide array of subjects, including the future development of payment systems, prospects for new payment technologies like smart cards, person-to-person payments, micropayments and mobile payments, and provides analysis on the strengths and weaknesses of payment industry competitors. He has also spoken before the Federal Reserve Bank on the subject of electronic bill presentment and payment, and at industry conferences on the subjects of business-to-business payments, smart cards, stored value cards, and mobile payments. Ian Rubin, Director, Custom Research Solutions Ian Rubin is director of Financial Insights Custom Research Solutions and Consulting programs, providing financial services industry executives with timely advice on key opportunities and trends affecting financial institutions. In this role, Ian serves as project manager responsible for timely delivery of study results, as well as the overall quality of each multiclient engagement. His recent projects include conducting due diligence for a venture capital company pursuing a strategic purchase of an Internet banking software and integration company; assisting a consumer online bill payment vendor assess the small business market opportunity, and advising the European subsidiary of a major US online financial software company on future expansion. 5 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701 (508) 620-5533 Fax (508) 988-6761 email info@financial-insights.com www.financial-insights.com About Financial Insights, an IDC Company Financial Insights provides independent research services to users and providers of financial industry technology. The company was formed in November 2002 by combining Meridien Research and the IDC Financial Services Advisory group. The Retail Financial Services practice offers four areas of focus: Payments, Channels, Customer Strategies and Wealth Management. The Capital Markets practice offers Trading Technologies and all aspects of Risk Management. The Corporate Banking practice covers cash management, wholesale payments, trade finance, and small business banking. Each practice delivers reports detailing new issues and challenges and uses its knowledge to advise clients on technology related decisions. Financial Insights is an IDC Company, headquartered in Framingham, MA. Visit http://www.financial-insights.com/ for more information. IDC is a division of IDG, the world s leading IT media, research, and exposition company.