Mailed Deposits Can be Tracked Online for Added Peace of Mind
For Immediate Release
WILMINGTON, Del. (July 27, 2000) - Juniper Financial
(www.juniperfinancial.com), the new online financial services venture started
by financial industry all-stars Richard Vague and Jim Stewart, today announced a key
partnership alliance with Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE), the world's largest retail
business, communications and postal services franchisor, that will pave the way for online
banking by giving everyone who banks greater financial options. Juniper Financial is
embarking on a new set of solutions inspired by the consumer. Through this agreement
with MBE, Juniper will be the first online financial institution to offer a deposit
strategy through a retail location. This fall, Juniper customers will be able to walk
into most of MBE's 3,400 U.S. locations and overnight their deposits to Juniper
free of charge.
"Up to this point, online banking has struggled partially in part because it
has been difficult to make a deposit, which is a basic step in your the banking
lifeprocess. We want to make banking as simple as possible for our customers so we
are looking for creative solutions to fit our customers' needs," said Juniper
Financial co-founder and CEO Richard Vague. "Mail Boxes Etc. is an ideal partner
because they give us a base of locations to offer a trusted and dependable method for our
account holders to send their non-cash deposits. MBE also has an intense focus on
customer service, and that's really why both companies are in business. We both want
to do something that provides value and convenience to our customers."
The agreement marks the visible beginning of Juniper's new approach to financial
services. Because online banking is still in its infancy, the field is open for a company
such as Juniper to emerge as the industry leader by creating solutions, such as
brick-and-mortar locations to drop off deposits for mailing, aimed at simplifying
consumers' financial lives.
Upon the Juniper service launch, anyone can walk into an MBE location and request a
deposit be mailed to Juniper by either UPS 2nd day air or overnight. MBE will
process the order and issue a UPS tracking number so that the shipment can be tracked online
at the Juniper web site or through the MBE web site. This service is provided at no cost
to the customer.
"Online financial services fit into our strategy to become a true click-and-mortar
solution for Internet businesses," said James H. Amos, Jr., Mail Boxes Etc. president
and CEO. "Our unrivaled brick-and-mortar presence, with over 4,200 locations worldwide,
make us a logical choice to provide a touch point for e-business transactions, such as online
banking. This alliance is just one more example of how MBE is bringing high-trust and
high-touch to the world of high-tech," added Amos.
About Mail Boxes Etc.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE), the world’s largest
retail business, communication and postal services franchisor. MBE is a wholly owned
subsidiary of US Office Products Company (NASDAQ: OFIS), with more than 4,200 MBE
locations operating worldwide, and master license agreements in 67 countries around
the world. In the United States, MBE centers are owned and operated by licensed franchisees
of Mail Boxes Etc., USA, Inc. Outside of the United States, MBE centers are owned and
operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees. MBE maintains a web site at www.mbe.com.
About Juniper Financial
Juniper Financial was founded in January 2000 by Richard Vague, founder of First USA, the
largest Visa credit card issuer in the world; and Jim Stewart, former CEO of Wingspan Bank.
Juniper Financial seeks to simplify customers’ financial lives by offering extremely customized
services that will enable users to make informed financial decisions. Privately held, Juniper
Financial is based in Wilmington, Delaware. The company's funding partner is Benchmark
Capital. Additional information about the company and employment opportunities can be found
online at www.juniperfinancial.com or send
e-mail to questions@juniperfinancial.com.
"Juniper" is a trademark of Juniper Financial Corp. |
