Bank of America has signed a five year strategic agreement with electronic data solutions vendor Sigaba to provide its staff with a secure messaging system.
Under the agreement, Sigaba will provide the bank with secure e-mail gateways, authentication adaptors and encryption services, secure email plug-ins and custom-developed secure messaging software.
Staff using Sigaba's secure messaging infrastructure will be able to receive and send electronic messages and documents both internally and to clients and suppliers in a secure environment. The system will also allow staff to use any e-mail programme, choose the method of receipt and manage secure messaging account information.
The vendor says the system will also prevent clients' private financial data being disclosed while in transit.
Christine Christensen, director, client delivery product management, global treasury services, Bank of America, says: "Through our secured e-mail service, clients will be able to access a variety of reports and statements delivered directly to their standard e-mail inbox with the assurance that only the properly entitled users will be able to open and view them."
The bank adds that it expects to begin using Sigaba's software early in 2003 to send information to selected global treasury services clients.