DXC Technology to Digitally Transform Berner Kantonalbank’s Core Banking System and Lead Bank into New Era of Digital Banking
News Release -- September 19, 2018
Zurich, Switzerland, 19 September 2018 — Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB), a leading cantonal bank in Switzerland, has selected DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) to digitally transform the company’s core banking system with a new digital platform to improve BEKB’s banking operation and services.
As digitalization and new, agile players change the banking landscape, banks need core systems that can quickly adapt to the new needs of digitally savvy customers and business models. To further strengthen BEKB’s market position, DXC will transition the bank from its existing IBIS3G banking system to a new core digital banking solution, IBIS4-Digital, which will improve digital banking options for BEKB’s current and future customers.
“The modern and flexible architecture of DXC Technology’s IBIS4-Digital core banking solution will optimize our way of working, bring greater possibilities for our customers and provide the agility which is necessary in this new world of digital banking,” said Mark Haller, executive board member, head of production and operations, Berner Kantonalbank.
The IBIS banking system has been used by Swiss banks for over 30 years. DXC has been responsible for developing and maintaining the IBIS3G banking version since 2010. The new core digital platform IBIS4-Digital is being developed in response to emerging trends in digital banking, to help banks and other users such as financial institutions offer new digital functionalities and remain competitive.
IBIS4-Digital will enable BEKB to offer new services and improve its digital banking operations and customer experience. According to the deal, BEKB will transfer the IT ownership rights of its existing IBIS3G system to DXC and rely on DXC’s extensive expertise in digital transformation as a global end-to-end IT services provider to bring its digital banking offerings in line with current trends.
“By moving from the existing IBIS3G to the new IBIS4-Digital system, we are creating a digital banking platform for more advanced banking of the future and providing our customers with access to a modern banking ecosystem via open APIs,” said Michel Döringer, head of banking, DXC Technology Switzerland. “The new system enables BEKB to respond quickly and with greater flexibility to emerging customer needs.”
“The customer experience will be one of the key factors in attracting new and retaining existing customers in the future. With the IBIS4-Digital system, our customers will continue to benefit from modern and sustainable services and perceive BEKB as a modern and customer-oriented bank,” said Christoph Meinen, head of digital transformation, Berner Kantonalbank.
DXC’s Banking Service Center Bern: An established banking hub in Europe
DXC’s Banking Service Center in Bern — which also operates the current IBIS3G system — will lead the complex process of digitally transforming BEKB’s core banking system, providing extensive knowledge of the local banking market, trends and regulations, in addition to IT expertise. The Banking Service Center in Bern is run by hundreds of digital banking and IT specialists who cooperate closely with Swiss banks to develop cutting-edge solutions for effective digital banking.
This strategic cooperation with BEKB further establishes the DXC Banking Service Center as a strategic banking hub in Europe. As the work of the center continues to grow and gain in importance, DXC plans to expand it by employing new specialists in Bern.
IBIS4-Digital: A hyperconverged infrastructure solution at lower cost
As the IBIS4-Digital system evolves, it will operate in a new state-of-the-art data center on a web-scaled hyperconverged infrastructure solution. Web-scaled infrastructures are a better approach to designing, building and managing banking data centers. Compared to the multi-tier-based infrastructures used in data centers, web-scaled infrastructures are simpler and provide greater business agility. With the hyperconverged infrastructure technology, over 2,000 server instances and components at the Banking Service Center will be bundled and reduced to fewer components.
Decreasing the number of components will simplify maintenance and commissioning of new systems, and automation will reduce infrastructure maintenance and operating costs, thus significantly reducing overall costs.
About DXC Technology
DXC Technology (DXC: NYSE) is the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, serving nearly 6,000 private and public-sector clients from a diverse array of industries across 70 countries. The company’s technology independence, global talent and extensive partner network deliver transformative digital offerings and solutions that help clients harness the power of innovation to thrive on change. DXC Technology is recognized among the best corporate citizens globally. For more information, visit www.dxc.technology.
About Berner Kantonalbank
BEKB is strongly anchored in the cantons of Berne and Solothurn with approximately 500,000 customers, over 1,200 employees and 62 branches. With around 57,000 shareholders, BEKB is one of the most important Swiss public companies in terms of the breadth of its shareholder base. As a typical universal bank, it offers comprehensive solutions for paying, saving, investing, financing and provisioning. It focuses its activities on two core business areas: business with private and corporate clients, especially with SMEs, and asset management.