http://www.toledoblade.com/editorial/biz/9l30y2k.htm

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Fifth Third gets Y2K black eye

December 30, 1999

BY HOMER BRICKEY BLADE SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER

Hundreds of Fifth Third Bank customers in the Toledo area recently received notices telling them how much money they would be charged for their safe-deposit boxes in January, 1900. Apparently they don't have to pay a century's worth of interest on that charge.

Fifth Third is one of many companies that have experienced a Year 2000 problem - even before the New Year's weekend when the whole world will be looking for so-called Y2K glitches.

Most banks, including Fifth Third, have told customers they're Y2K-ready, having spent millions of dollars to update and upgrade computer systems to properly read two-digit dates that otherwise could misread "00" to mean 1900 instead of 2000. Most area banks have scheduled extra staff this weekend to make sure computers, phone lines, and automated-teller machines are functioning - and to keep ATMs stocked with extra cash.

As for Fifth Third's flawed notice, it was generated by a personal computer within the bank, and the error wasn't caught until 1,500 of the 5,500 statements were mailed, said Karen Fraker, marketing vice president.

"It was not a mainframe problem," she said, referring to the bank's central computer system. "This is not a critical system. It's nothing that would affect a customer's funds. Quite honestly, this is the type of glitch that people will see for Y2K."

Others have experienced early Y2K glitches.

Wells Fargo & Co. mailed 13,000 renewal notices to customers in 10 states, saying their certificates of deposit would expire in January, 1900. Bank officials blamed the mistake on a printing vendor.

In Maine, owners of 2000-model cars and trucks received titles identifying their new vehicles as "horseless carriages," the designation used for vehicles produced before 1916. About 800 passenger car titles and about 1,200 tractor-trailer titles were issued with the error.

Hershey Foods Corp. faced distribution delays because of trouble with a new $112 million automation system designed in part to prevent Y2K problems. At the height of problems in October, several retailers were reporting shortages that forced them to turn to other candy makers to fill bare shelves.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), December 30, 1999

Answers

They are the best prepared. This can't be. The excuse-makers were spinning this too. Infomagic may be right after all.....

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), December 30, 1999.

"It was not a mainframe problem," she said, referring to the bank's central computer system. "This is not a critical system. It's nothing that would affect a customer's funds. Quite honestly, this is the type of glitch that people will see for Y2K."

Hmmm...it just might effect customer confidence. A few of these problems and weak responses from bankers and you have a panic.

It wasn't a "mission-critical" system - just a PC. The non-critical systems are going to bring us down. I'm preaching to the choir, but how many of you work at a business that purchases non-critical computer systems? Every system serves a vital function somewhere in the business plan. Every system that fails introduces inefficiencies. If enough of these "non-critical" systems fail the business fails.

-- Darby (DarbyII@AOL.com), December 30, 1999.

"If enough of these "non-critical" systems fail the business fails."

ya, only assuming people will sit around with their thumb up there nose and not fix them... Our entire IT staff is prepared to fix anything and everything that breaks, everybody is on call... as is most of corporate IT america... adrenaline is pretty awesome... I feel like i'm getting ready to run a hell of a race...

I think were up for it. We do our best work under pressure! ;)

-- KatInSeattle (YouC@ntSpamMe.com), December 30, 1999.