When you call Gary Evans, president and CEO at Bank of Internet USA, his voice mail warns he's more likely to respond to an e-mail than a voice message. Still, we're talking to his machine now so we leave a message. Sure enough, we don't hear back, so a couple of hours later we send an e-mail. About a minute later his reply flashes into into our in-box. Wow, this really is an Internet bank.

It also has brick-and-mortar premises on El Camino Real where customers can walk in and do business. Most, however, use the Internet and 90 percent of customers are spread around the United States.

Evans, former president of La Jolla Bank, has a map showing clients in every state except North and South Dakota, an omission which leaves him baffled.

He believes his bank may be the only one ever to open on a public holiday. It started last July 4 and a banner on its Web site predictably trumpets the theme: "Born on the Fourth of July."

He says the bank, one of a few of its type in the western United States and the only one in San Diego, focuses on seniors and also offers special "boomer" accounts for those aged at least 45.

Bank of Internet claims to do everything a traditional bank does only better, cheaper and quicker, with a full range of services from home mortgages, trust accounts and free use of ATMs, to copies of statements and checks online every morning.

The bank's $14.25 million capitalization was provided by 151 investors, mostly through private placement in San Diego. Since opening 10 months ago, Evans says the bank has arranged around $110 million in assets.

Chairman of the eight-member board is Jerry Englert, who was the lead founder and vice chairman of Bank of Del Mar. Other members include Ted Allrich, well known for his book and Web site "The On-Line Investor," property magnate William Ayyad, pensions and retirement specialist Thomas Pancheri and scientist Connie Paulus.

Evans, whose career in banking spans 30 years, is convinced about the merits of using the Internet as a banking delivery channel. "This is the future of banking," he says. "Everything online, in real time, at all times."

Of course, he adds jokingly, it's not for everyone. "It may only suit about 100 million people in the United States."