Community Bankshares, Inc.  

Challenge

Community Bankshares was using frame relay-based communications, but dropped packets and slow application access speeds lowered the level of customer service that employees could deliver to the bank's clients. The hub-and-spoke architecture was also time-consuming to set up and administer.

Solution

Community Bankshares IT team rolled out the Qwest iQ^® Networking Private Port service to 42 locations in Colorado and California over a six week period. Qwest iQ^® Networking Private Port uses multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) to create a fully-meshed network. In addition, a Qwest Metro Optical Ethernet pipe links the companys data center to its corporate offices.

Benefits and Results:

• Replacing the frame relay network with MPLS-based Qwest iQ^® Networking Private Port service is saving approximately 15 percent per month in network costs
• MPLS-based Qwest iQ^® Networking Private Port service eliminates the single point of congestion of the hub-and-spoke design and is easier to maintain
• Time to configure and provision new sites is cut by at least 50 percent
• Qwest MPLS-based network helps address requirements for data security
• Faster network supports improved customer service

Client

Founded in 1989, Community Bankshares is a holding company with 42 Community Banks locations providing personal and business banking services across Colorado and California. The growth strategy at Community Bankshares relies on finding excellent people and providing them with the resources to do the best job that they can. The banks communications network is a key part of that strategy.