Cook County property owners now can pay property taxes at more than 250 Bank One branch locations across Chicagoland, nearly twice the number previously available, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Tuesday.

Pappas made the announcement as her office began mailing property tax bills covering 1.7 million parcels of real estate across Cook County for the first installment of tax year 2004, being collected in 2005. The bills have a due date of March 1, 2005, to be paid on time.

"Our goal is to make it as convenient as possible to pay," Pappas said. "Bank One is opening locations that make it easier than ever to find a bank near one's home or place of work, including in some Dominick's food stores. Switching to Bank One increases the number of locations in every region of Cook County."

Pappas thanked LaSalle Bank, which previously provided branch banking and lockbox services to Pappas's office until the latest bid for branch banking and lock-box services.

"Bank One's more than 250 locations, 156 in Cook County and more than 100 in neighboring counties, were a major factor in why Bank One won the contract for this important work," Pappas said.

Pappas instituted a lock box in 1999 immediately after becoming treasurer, allowing for same-day revenue deposits that dramatically increased interest returns on Cook County's accounts in different banks.

Pappas said a list of Bank One locations is available at www.cookcountytreasurer.com, and noted that taxpayers can pay on line at her Web site or mail payments in the return envelopes that come with the bills.