News Details

National Bank of Arizona Introduces Remote Deposits(TM)

April 20, 2005

Bank is First to Offer a Revolutionary Electronic Check Clearing System for

                                  Businesses

PHOENIX, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Bank of Arizona President and CEO Keith Maio has announced the introduction of the bank's latest product for businesses, Remote Deposits(TM) -- an electronic check clearing system for businesses which allows them to make deposits from their office.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040913/ARIZONALOGO )

National Bank of Arizona is one of the first banks in the nation to offer a product of this kind.

"Our partnership with Arizona businesses extends beyond loans and deposits, we believe in creating innovative tools to help customers succeed," said Maio. "With Remote Deposits(TM) our customers should realize significant operational savings and improved overall funds availability."

Powered by software from NetDeposit, Inc., Remote Deposits(TM) was made possible with the implementation of last October's Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, commonly referred to as the "Check 21" law. Check 21 allows banks and other financial institutions to exchange digital images of original checks, known as substitute checks, instead of physically transporting the original checks to the paying entity. Check 21 requires banks to accept and process substitute checks as legally negotiable instruments.

Businesses may now use Remote Deposits(TM) as an alternative to visiting a bank branch or using a courier service to make non-cash deposits. Remote Deposits(TM) equipment and software allows businesses to scan checks from their place of business and create an electronic image which is transmitted to a central processing center and converted into a substitute check. The substitute checks are then presented for payment at the appropriate paying institution. Remote Deposits(TM) technology is a convenient, cost-effective remittance-processing alternative for businesses, creating improved funds availability and significantly reducing float time.

"Remote Deposits(TM) is another great example of the innovative business products National Bank offers to assist our customers with the success of their businesses," said Kathy Jorgenson, Senior Vice President/Director of Corporate Services. "This revolutionary technology presents an opportunity for our customers to benefit greatly from Check 21 legislation."

Remote Deposits(TM) is ideal for business customers located in both rural and metro communities. It is a secure system that eliminates the physical transfer of checks, reduces manual processes involved with deposit preparation and provides for online image storage and research of all checks deposited.

National Bank of Arizona, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation (Nasdaq: ZION), was founded in Tucson in 1984 as a community bank specializing in real estate, serving professionals, and meeting the needs of small and mid-sized Arizona businesses. Since that time, the bank has experienced dramatic growth becoming Arizona's fourth-largest bank with approximately $3.5 billion in assets. National Bank has also been named the Number One Bank in the state for the fourth consecutive year by, "Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Business." National Bank has 52 offices in 36 communities throughout the state. For more information, visit National Bank online at: www.nbarizona.com.

For further information about Remote Deposits(TM) or to sign up, please contact National Bank of Arizona's Corporate Services Department in Phoenix at (602) 212-8838 or statewide at 1-800-655-7622.

SOURCE  National Bank of Arizona
    -0-                             04/20/2005
    /CONTACT:  Cheryl Holdraker, Senior Vice President/Marketing Director of
National Bank of Arizona, +1-602-235-6000/
    / Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040913/ARIZONALOGO
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.zionsbancorporation.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.nbarizona.com /
    (ZION)

CO:  National Bank of Arizona; Zions Bancorporation
ST:  Arizona
IN:  FIN
SU:  PDT

JH-BP
-- LAW040 --
7190 04/20/200511:00 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com