NORCROSS, Ga., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- GMT Corp., an industry leader in enterprise workforce and cash optimization solutions, today announced that its technology solutions have helped Bank of the West realize significant cost savings within two quarters in 2006. With GMT's technology solutions, the bank could more closely monitor internal performance, improve employee productivity, lower staffing costs, and better manage its precious cash resources.

    Bank of the West is among the 25 largest commercial banks in the U.S. serving more than 3.75 million consumer and business accounts in 19 states through more than 700 branch banking and commercial office locations. At the beginning of 2006, the bank added 204 branches with the acquisition of Omaha- based Commercial Federal Bank. GMT solutions helped to enable Bank of the West to standardize basic processes, such as forecasting and scheduling, across the new locations.

    "GMT solutions are easy to use, accurate and affordable," explained Janet Simpson, senior vice president of group operations at Bank of the West. "We have realized savings of approximately $8 million in operating costs in a two- quarter period. They helped us to eliminate redundancies, streamline operations, and maintain clear visibility throughout our vast network."

    In the area of staffing, GMT Planet, the highly-acclaimed workforce optimization solution, provided the bank with insights into how its branches were operating in order to make the adjustments needed to operate more efficiently, such as providing 99%+ accuracy in forecasting call volumes for proper staffing levels and the ability to integrate more flex- and part-time staff. The ability to more strategically deploy tellers was a key factor in cost savings at the Bank, impacting 184 full-time equivalents (FTE) annually.

    More than efficiency gains, GMT Planet's robust reporting functions enable the bank to monitor the performance of individual branches and balance workflow whenever fluctuations occur, such as staffing up to handle additional inquires related to its acquisition of other banks. The system also supports strategic planning and budgeting functions, delivers accurate shift scheduling data, ensures scheduling adherence, and provides employees with many self- service options.

    In the area of cash management, Bank of the West has been using the GMT CashMaster solution since 2001 to ensure the bank make the best use of its cash, rather than holding on to extra money that can be greater utilized elsewhere, from loans to earning interest. Given the additional revenue- generation opportunities that GMT CashMaster unlocks, as well as productivity gains from automating manual tasks, the bank had recently expanded its use of the solution from 165 branches to more than 400.

    "Bank of the West's experiences highlight the far-reaching benefits that GMT offers to our customers," said Simon Angove, chief executive officer of GMT. "Our solutions are especially relevant in banking, optimizing resources from individual branches to call centers and even to their ATM machines. As a result, companies such as Bank of the West are able to raise the standard of customer care as well as their profitability."

    ABOUT GMT

    GMT's workforce and cash optimization solutions create competitive advantage by enabling companies to improve customer service and sales, while decreasing their variable expenses. The company's product line combines precision forecasting and intelligent scheduling with powerful analytics and performance management tools - together delivering a complete solution that is priced to deliver quick return on investment. GMT serves financial services and contact center customers worldwide, including ABN AMRO, Citibank, Nielsen Media, Pizza Hut, SunTrust, UPS, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo. The company is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and offices in the U.K., Australia, and India. For more information, visit www.gmt.com.

    GMT, GMT Planet, "Accurate. Easy. Affordable.", "Resource Optimization for the WHOLE Enterprise", "SureStart" and the GMT Planet logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of GMT Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Source: GMT Corp.