Two-time Online Banking Report Best of Web winner, Everbank landed a flattering two-page spread in the April 2005 issue of Business 2.0.

The author, David Dent, is highly complementary of the bank’s innovative strategy of allowing deposits to be held in a variety of foreign currencies. Not only has it been lucrative for currency investors, it’s been a boon to the bank.

Everbank’s foreign-denominated deposits are closing in on US$1 billion. Specifically, at year-end 2004, foreign currency deposits accounted for $850 million, or 25% of the bank’s $3.5 billion in total deposits.

Analysis
This is a good example of how a small player can mine a niche using the national reach of the Internet. Look for other banks, both Internet-only, and traditional financial institutions to do the same in other areas, such as lending to small businesses, transaction accounts geared to traveling sales reps, impenetrable savings accounts for the security conscious, and so on. 

Resources: OBR Best of Web winners: 1995 to 2004

— JB