Silence -- publicly at least -- is reigning at Bermuda Commercial Bank over what is happening with the bank's plans to have a presence in cyberspace or who will take over as managing director.

A full service Internet website was to be up and running on January 1, 2000 but more than nine months later the project has still not materialised.

Under strict orders from Bank chairman, John Deuss not to utter a word to the media, calls are screened to the point that reporters are chased away before even stating the purpose of their calls.

Reporters are told that the Bank will contact the media if and when it has news. But no press release to announce a replacement for the former acting managing director, Barry Mulholland, who left last week, has been sent out.

Mr. Mulholland left last week after announcing his decision to quit the job in April.

In May the Bank revealed that it had begun an international search for a replacement, but so far Manny Iglesias, who was promoted internally, is covering the post.

Asked about the status of the BCB website this week, Mr. Iglesias said: "When we are ready to make an announcement we will issue a press release.'' In an elaborate hour-long introduction of the site to the media last year, Bank officials announced that it would be up and running on January 1, 2000.

On the first of the year there was nothing but it wasn't until the middle of the month that Bank officials admitted implementation had been delayed.

The Bank would not specify the reason for the delay beyond saying that it needed to attend to "security issues and integrity both for customers and the Bank''.

A new start-up date for the spring was given but passed without incident.

In May, Mr. Mulholland said completion of a new software package was all that was needed for the project to move ahead.

"Right now we are finalising the software package,'' he said. "Beta testing should start in the next few weeks.'' And while he was cautious in announcing another date for implementation he felt it safe to say: "I'm very hopeful it would be before the end of the summer.'' But to date the website is still not operational. The online Bermuda Commercial bank services are set to include account transfers, balances and investment information.

Customers have been told that they will be able to view their account balances and transactions in any currency, through a special currency converter. They have also been told that they will be able to trade online.

The e-banking was to operate as a joint venture between Bermuda Commercial bank and its major shareholder First Curacao International Bank.