BUSINESS MEMO: WEB SITE RECOGNIZED

Firstar Bank's Internet banking site, www.firstar.com, was named by "Microbanker Online" magazine as one of the top three customer friendly bank Web sites. Firstar ranked third of 51 banks analyzed by the Internet banking magazine.

There are about 3,000 bank Web sites in the United States, according to the FDIC, but only about 500 offer interactive banking functions for customers to do everything from view their account balance to pay bills, apply for a loan or other banking services.

Thomas O'Hara, director of Firstar Bank's e-commerce group, said the survey results demonstrate the bank is listening to its customers and is constantly making enhancements that meet their needs. "While Firstar currently has a very strong and customer-friendly online banking product, we are excited because some of our most significant enhancements to our site, like only statements, are yet to come," said O'Hara.

Firstar first began offering PC or online banking in 1996 and has more than 190,000 online banking customers who electronically check their account balance, pay bills or transfer funds from one account to another.

According to the survey, the top 10 banking Web sites in order, are: Commerce Bank, BankAmerica, Firstar Bank, Bank One, Wells Fargo, City State, Britton & Koontz First National, Chase Manhattan, Huntington National and Digital Employees Federal Credit Union.