St.George Bank has selected a proposal from Optus to supply and manage the bank's voice, data and mobile communications.

The parties have agreed a three-year deal, expected to be worth $100 million, subject to the finalisation of contract terms.

Optus's Chief Operating Officer, Paul O'Sullivan, said the selection highlights Optus's capabilities to meet all the communications needs of Australian companies.

"We are well positioned to provide the full range of state-of-the-art technology and communication solutions to our large range of major corporate customers.

"As Australia's communications 'challenger', we are helping our partners find new and innovative technology-based ways to run their businesses.

"Working with St.George is a good example of the way we partner with our customers.

"They are a diverse organisation with over 400 sites across Australia and we will deliver tailored solutions to the bank's businesses, for everything from telephony to their mission critical data carriage," Mr O'Sullivan said.

John Loebenstein, Chief Information Officer of St.George, said the company evaluated their existing telecommunications providers to ensure the bank maintained the most cost effective and technically advanced telecommunications services.

"Communication is a critical part of our business. We need to ensure that St.George keeps pace with technology and uses it as a platform for business growth.

"We are changing from dealing with multiple suppliers of communications to a single organisation that will manage our total telecommunications requirements. The appointment of Optus as St.George's sole telecommunications provider is the best way to ensure shareholder value and business efficiency," Mr Loebenstein said.

"The deal will deliver substantial cost reductions to all St.George business divisions over the three-year term.

"It will also enable the bank to leverage off Optus's advanced expertise in the rapidly changing telecommunications field, to keep pace with new technology and continually improve operations."

For more information:
Linda Collard
Optus
Phone: 02 9342 5045

Adam Cooke
St.George Bank
Phone: 02 9952 1249