In the fall of 2004 Wachovia was looking for an efficient way to track the anticipated high volume of incoming and outgoing image files in support of Check 21. In addition, Wachovia wanted to monitor and provide status alerts on all incoming and outgoing image files, to include applications such as Remote Capture, ATM Capture, Image Exchange, etc. Following an evaluation, Wachovia chose to partner with Software Earnings to leverage their proven ability to integrate leading-edge technology into the bank's existing and rapidly expanding operations. Selecting IBM's WebSphere platform from among the various infrastructure options available, Software Earnings implemented the application in April of this year.

Shahrokh Ghassemi, Wachovia SVP and Director of Transaction Technology Services, stated "Software Earnings' experience and knowledge in providing check related solutions in a variety of processing environments, teamed with Wachovia's expertise, allowed the timely development of a much needed function-rich tracking product to manage a high number of check image files in a well organized and pro-active manner."

In a paper-based environment incoming cash letters are tracked by manual or semi-automated tracking methods which have functioned well given the volume of work involved. In an image exchange environment the paper goes away and, as exchange volumes ramp up, the number of image files received and sent increases dramatically. This increase, coupled with the move to receive ever increasing volumes of image files from corporate customers and bank branches and ATMs, significantly increases the risks associated with file management.

OnTrac addresses this problem by tracking, reporting and providing a vehicle to invoke value-added processes such as IQA, customer notification and duplicate file detection on all image file activity. This ensures that all expected and scheduled file transfers are not only executed successfully but processed appropriately based on unique pre-defined special instructions. Greg Sherrill, Software Earnings' EVP-Global Sales stated "As our industry experiences the positive operational impacts of Check 21, and financial institutions begin to fully leverage their image processing Gateway Solutions, an effective web-based monitoring, tracking and decision tool will become a necessity. I am pleased to be working with Wachovia, one of our industry's leaders, in bringing this product to market."