Fast Growing Connecticut River Community Bank Selects COCC
for Technology Partnership

AVON, Conn., March 14, 2007 – COCC, the region’s leading provider of next generation technology services for financial institutions, today announced that Connecticut River Community Bank has selected the company’s advanced technology platform. The high growth bank headquartered in Wethersfield, Conn. will use its technology partnership with COCC to build on its impressive growth record.

“Our strength in commercial lending has fueled our growth since we opened the bank in 2002,” said William Attridge, President and CEO, Connecticut River Community Bank. “COCC’s next generation technology and reputation for client support will increase our efficiency and give us the leading edge products we need to expand our business statewide.

Connecticut River Community Bank opened its main office in November of 2002.  One year later, the bank had grown to $27 million in assets and finished 2006 with $125 million. The bank opened its first branch location in Glastonbury, Conn. in September of 2005.

“We have a reputation for getting things done,” said Mr. Attridge. “In lending situations, we deliver prompt responses to requests for loans. We have an experienced commercial lending team.  Decisions are made locally and quickly.  At Connecticut River Community Bank our customers deal with decision makers.”

Connecticut River Community Bank’s “get it done” philosophy extends to its technology partnership with COCC. Mr. Attridge says the bank’s key people focused on ease-of-use and the ability to access information from the system. “COCC’s newer technology was key to our decision,” he said. “The architecture is based on relationship management which will help us serve our customers more efficiently.”

Mr. Attridge added that COCC’s advanced technology will also enhance the bank’s ability to add new products, such as remote deposit capture.   Additional advantages will come from the system’s risk management, imaging and paperless features. “Overall, the COCC systems will help the bank improve its workflow and efficiency,” said Mr. Attridge.

Built on an Oracle database, COCC’s core accounting system uses technology that is ideally suited to utilizing information of all kinds. The new technology saves weeks, if not months, of programming effort when adding new functions. In addition, the technology is capable of incorporating photos and biometric elements for stronger risk management. Legacy systems, by contrast, are limited to text and numbers.

“Through our search process, we could see how COCC’s state-of-the-art technology and innovation will cut the time required to integrate new functionality,” said Mr. Attridge. “Older, legacy systems simply can’t keep up with the pace of today’s banking market. 

The bank also checked with COCC clients, a number of whom they knew. The bank’s search committee reported that all of COCC’s clients that were contacted spoke highly of the company and its ability to adapt to changing client needs. Frequent surveys and close attention to client feedback from all levels of management were a definite plus.

“As a community bank, I knew we would get more attention from COCC,” said Mr. Attridge. “They use the same approach that we use with our customers – plenty of attention from the key decision makers. Our questions and requests received prompt attention.”