Banter chats up $18 million round

Banter on Monday announced that it received an $18 million fourth round of funding led by Financial Technology Ventures. Other investors included Mayfield, RBC Technology Ventures and Lucent Venture Partners. The San Francisco-based company has now raised more than $50 million. Banter develops software designed to help companies automatically manage their customers' e-mail and information filled out on Web site forms.