CapitalStream, a Seattle-based provider of patent pending commercial finance automation technology for banks, financial institutions and manufacturers today announced Bank of the West as its newest customer to implement FinanceCenter™, CapitalStream’s commercial finance platform. Bank of the West’s Business Link small business lending group chose FinanceCenter as a solution to replace its manual processes and increase efficiency and profitability for transaction management within its network of nearly 200 branches. As a result, a typical transaction process cycle will be significantly streamlined.

Frank Bonetto, Bank of the West’s Senior EVP for Regional Banking, says the CapitalStream solution will shorten current processing time for loans and lines of credit, significantly increasing efficiencies within Business Link and the branch. "CapitalStream’s technology will enable real-time responses and consistent processes, resulting in better customer service," said Bonetto. "As Bank of the West grows, new branches can be added into the system, which is easily scaled yet centrally managed to reduce cost and redundant training."

CapitalStream’s FinanceCenter automates the commercial finance process across multiple business lines, multiple products and multiple sales channels, lowering costs and enabling companies to take advantage of new business opportunities by automating manual processes for leases, loans, lines of credit and credit cards.

"Our position as a leader in providing the most efficient commercial finance automation technology in the banking industry is reinforced by this alliance with Bank of the West," said Carole McCluskey, CapitalStream’s Vice President of Client Services. "Through a competitive selection process, CapitalStream was awarded the business due to our extensible platform that connects disparate systems and allows for quick and easy branch automation."

Bank of the West in December announced the acquisition of United California Bank, which has 115 branches in California. CapitalStream’s solution will facilitate ease of integration for the new branches.

Founded in 1874, Bank of the West, with $13.4 billion in assets and 193 branches at the end of 2001, serves the personal and business banking needs of customers in northern California, Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Idaho.

Seattle-based CapitalStream automates and streamlines commercial finance processes for banks, finance companies, and manufacturers. CapitalStream – FinanceCenter™, a patent pending technology, reduces processing time, lowers costs, and enables companies to cost effectively take advantage of new business opportunities by automating manual processes for leases, loans, lines of credit, and credit cards. CapitalStream, an established industry leader for more than six years with deep knowledge about the inner workings of the financing world, has helped hundreds of financial organizations increase their competitiveness, customer service and profitability.

For additional information about CapitalStream visit its web site at www.capitalstream.com.

Jennifer Fox
Capital Stream, Inc.
206-548-1651
jenniferf@capitalstream.com

Scott Battishill
DDB Public Relations
(206) 464-0197
scott.battishill@sea.ddb.com