Bank of Idaho Achieves Enhanced Small Business Lending Compliance
and Credit Risk Management with Cypress Software’s BizMark Solution

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – Sept. 28, 2009 – As many financial institutions are looking for methods to enhance lending compliance and credit risk management, Bank of Idaho has found a solution by using a combination of sound lending practices and technology.

Earlier this year, the Idaho Falls-based bank deployed Cypress Software Systems’ BizMark software to develop an automated application and underwriting system for its small business loans. Beyond the efficiencies achieved with the loan software, Bank of Idaho also gained additional control over its credit risk management and compliance efforts.

“More than 75 percent of our commercial loans fall under the $250,000 threshold, so we typically cater to small businesses that larger banks turn down. Since the origination costs for those loans are usually high, we wanted a centralized and automated system that would primarily cut costs. BizMark from Cypress was the answer,” said Warren Roberts, vice president and assistant loan administrator at Bank of Idaho. “In addition to the cost-savings, BizMark has helped us easily monitor and control our credit risk management efforts through greater underwriting consistency and the customized use of scorecards.”

Roberts says results from a recent scorecard validation that the bank performed in July showed their scorecard measured a mere point off target, meaning the bank’s loan officers and the BizMark system were essentially on the right track with their pre-set loan cutoffs.

“BizMark helps take the worry out of compliance audits because it creates a system that already conforms to current regulations. It also helps us easily prepare the documentation that regulators seek,” Roberts said. “Cypress and BizMark have already helped us pass two audits this year.”

Bank of Idaho has seven branches across Idaho, holding more than $200 million in assets with more than 100 employees. Chartered in 1985 as the Bank of Eastern Idaho, the institution changed its name in 1999 to accommodate future growth across the entire state.

“Compliance and risk management are hot topics in the industry, and will stay hot for the foreseeable future,” said Steven E. Croft, senior vice president at Cypress Software Systems. “Our goal is to help institutions like Bank of Idaho obtain the knowledge and solutions needed to not only survive this current economic environment, but position them to thrive when the industry rebounds.”

Cypress’ BizMark software automates the small business loan application and decisioning process. With BizMark, lenders can efficiently handle a variety of small business loan products, including commercial credit requests for lines of credit, term loans, corporate leases and corporate credit cards. The software gathers principal and financial statement data; retrieves and interprets consumer and business credit reports; performs ratio analysis; and scores the results.

About Cypress Software Systems
Headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas, USA, Cypress Software Systems LP is a leading developer of automated credit application decision support technology. Cypress provides community and regional banks, finance companies and credit unions with loan application decision and tracking tools equivalent to those used by the largest national lending institutions. Clients, nationwide and in 16 countries, use the company’s flagship products, Mark IV and BizMark, to quickly and consistently process consumer and small commercial loan applications. Cypress Mark IV offers a flexible, risk-based processing approach that includes tracking consumer loan applications from point of entry to point of decision. Cypress’ BizMark loan automation software processes commercial loan requests within a customer relationship management environment. Both products may be licensed in the bundled Cypress Suite and are offered in either an application service provider (ASP) or traditional business model. The company’s product line also includes AppMark, an ASP-only consumer lending solution for community banks with assets of $250 million or less. Web Site: www.go-cypress.com.

Media Contacts
Jeff Green
Michael A. Burns & Associates Inc.
(214) 521-8596
greenj@mbapr.com