Mitek Systems Inc. publicly responded today to the lawsuit that was filed by USAA in late March that alleged the mobile imaging software vendor stole the U.S. military bank’s mobile RDC trade secrets and technology. In an interview today, Mitek President and Chief Executive James DeBello tells Bank Innovation that his company will defend itself and has the resources to do so.

“We were falsely accused,” DeBello tells Bank Innovation. “Our desire is to resolve this as expeditiously as possible. …This is our livelihood.”

DeBello says Mitek is just “beginning the process” of defending itself against the “false accusations.” How long it will take for USAA and Mitek to reach a resolution is uncertain, he says.

“These false claims are really disappointing to us,” DeBello says.

Mitek and USAA have been in negotiations for months over the issue, he says.

“It’s not natural that [USAA] is taking heavy-handed tactics to renegotiate better terms – that’s what this is all about,” he says.

Mitek Systems says it has signed eight of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., including JPMorgan Chase & Co, with its technology that lets consumers deposit their checks through camera-equipped smartphones.

“This course of action does not change our customers’ ability to adapt and deliver our technology,” DeBello says. “We will continue to work on our core technology and support our customers.”

Mitek Systems hired Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a Palo Alto, California-based law firm.

USAA couldn’t be reached for comment.