In the wake of banking sector liberalisation in the 1990s, Alain Law Min, head of retail at MCB, tells Parveen Bansal how and why the bank has restructured and how it has improved its business. Established in 1838, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) is one of the oldest banks in the region. The bank’s performance has been driven by strong growth in the economy, which, once highly dependent on sugar, is now well diversified.

Packaged solutions are making headway as the best approach to replacing legacy core-banking infrastructure, but organisations should look to current trends when planning their system migrations. By Peter Middleton, VP financial services, Oracle EMEA, and Andre Loustau, CTO, Temenos

The introduction of a shared service centre can lead to a more efficient, flexible infrastructure but requires significant management commitment. By Andreas Andreades, CEO, Temenos

A single version of the truth enables a timely, accurate view of the organisation and its customers that can be used to make better strategic decisions, says Juan Rada, senior vice-president, Industries, Oracle EMEA.

The banking industry worldwide appears to be nearing a time when core systems will be replaced. But, says Christine Barry, the methods used may be very different.

Parveen Bansal looks at the process of replacing core business systems, which is essential if the industry is to move forward.

Having sold its banking arm 10 years ago, the UK Post Office has engaged in a joint venture to offer a whole range of financial services products to the UK market, Parveen Bansal reports.

Whichever channel banks choose to concentrate on, they must not lose sight of their customers’ needs and preferences. That is why service levels must be maintained, whether in-branch or at offshore call centres, says Parveen Bansal.

Technology can keep banks one step ahead of the criminals at the ATM and ensure that customers continue to view the service as a safe and secure way of accessing their funds, says Jeff Lutz of NCR.

Plans to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster are becoming an essential requirement for banks and some are considering extending their plans to cover self-service systems, like ATMs. Wendy Atkins reports.