Bank of the West deploys CGI-AMS consumer finance collections solution suite to boost efficiency and productivity

Bank of the West deploys CGI-AMS consumer finance collections solution suite to boost efficiency and productivity - Collections lifecycle solution suite is key factor in bank's growth plans SACRAMENTO, California, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CGI-AMS, the wholly-owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.SV.A; NYSE: GIB), announced today that its collections solution suite is fully deployed at Bank of the West, the fourth largest commercial bank headquartered in the Western United States. The CGI-AMS solution suite is comprised of the CACS(R) collection system, Strata(R) Enterprise, a patented decision management solution and BureauLink(R), a real-time credit bureau retrieval utility. "In today's challenging financial landscape, it is critical to 'stay ahead of the curve,' especially with regard to rising expenses and customer satisfaction," said Jerry Zuspan, senior vice-president, Bank of the West. "We will be able to streamline our collections operations and reduce costs by using a platform that evolves with the industry, while also providing our customers with outstanding service now and in the future." The CGI-AMS solution suite replaces the bank's 15-year-old collections system, increasing collectors' efficiency and productivity as well as accommodating for an expanding loan portfolio. "We selected the CGI-AMS state-of-the-art system after reviewing at least half a dozen similar solutions," said John Lord, vice-president, Bank of the West. "The CGI-AMS solution suite offers a great deal of flexibility and ease of use for our collectors." More than 200 bank professionals are using the new system, which handles all of its consumer collection activities, including automobile, personal, recreational vehicle and boat loans, second deeds of trust, overdraft accounts and bankruptcy notices. "Leading financial services firms like Bank of the West invest in credit risk management solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction," said Deborah Nuffer, vice-president, CGI-AMS. "We are very pleased that Bank of the West selected our collections suite to help them realize their vision of an efficient, customer-focused financial institution." About Bank of the West Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com), with $ 31.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2004, has 480 branches in 16 Western and Midwestern states. Founded in San Jose in 1874 as Farmers National Gold Bank, Bank of the West is the fourth-largest commercial bank headquartered in the Western U.S. About CGI-AMS CGI-AMS is the wholly-owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc. Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in North America. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in Canada, the US, Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run-rate is currently CDN$3.8 billion (US$3.2 billion) and at September 30, 2004, CGI's order backlog was CDN$13.0 billion (US$10.8 billion). CGI's shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.SV.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com . Source: CGI-AMS CONTACT: Business development: Deborah Nuffer, Vice-president, consulting services, (650) 508-5316; Media relations, Angela Morris, Communications director, (703) 227-4294 Archived images on this organization are available through CNW E-Pix at http://www.newswire.ca/. Images are free to members of The Canadian Press. ------- Profile: International Entertainment