SBI undertakes globally largest CBS implementation

MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

announced that over 250 branches of SBI have gone live on the Centralised Core

Banking System implemented by TCS. The implemented solution set includes BANCS

from Financial Network Solutions (FNS),

Eximbills from China Systems interfaced to each other and the existing legacy

solution. The 250 branches encompass branches of SBI and the 7 Associate Banks

and is spread over all the circles of the bank, covering the major urban and

semi-urban centers of the country. With this, the impressive technology

initiative of SBI Group is set for an aggressive rollout.

TCS had been appointed by SBI as the Prime Systems Integrator for the core

banking and trade finance technology solutions. Through a planned initiative,

TCS undertook pilots of each of the solutions at select branches across the

country. Apart from the pilots, TCS also undertook training of key members of

the staff from SBI and the associate branches. The peak team size has involved

more than 200 highly proficient consultants from TCS and its partners.

The challenges in the project implementation include:

1.The sheer size and complex nature of the project

2. Integration of not just the technical systems but also business systems as

only then could the bank derive optimal advantage through the resultant straight

through processing.

3. Data migration

4. Organizational Change Management

The Centralised Core Banking System will result in very efficient and

personalised customer service, 24 X 7 banking through multiple delivery

channels, faster time-to-market and superior relationship management at the

bank. It will gear the banking group to meet the dynamically changing

environment. Operationally, fees can be centrally monitored, Interest rates can

be changed, reports can be generated centrally. Software distribution

complexities can be managed centrally and all major operations are done in the

central data centre.

Speaking on the occasion, A. K. Purwar, Chairman SBI Group said "The

banking solution implemented for SBI is central to the Bank' s IT and business

strategy. The solution has now attained critical mass and now set to encompass

all branches rapidly. In the present scenario, where size and consolidation in

the banking sector are being discussed, the common technology platform provides

a common face to both employees and customers of the bank. The SBI Group has

always been at the forefront of customer service and the technology solution

from TCS will go a long way in enhancing delivery of superior products and

services to our customers. This, coupled with the other business initiatives

within the group, will create a ' New SBI' .".

Speaking on the occasion, S. Ramadorai, Chief Executive Officer &

Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services said, "The aggressive roll out

of the Centralized Banking System is an endorsement of our Project Management

skills at TCS. The challenges in the project implementation of a solution set in

a large banking group are manifold. It is due to the immense teamwork and

commitment of the SBI & TCS teams that today we have reached a stage of

aggressive solution roll out across branches. We are privileged to have the

"bank that the nation banks on", bank on us for this one-of-its-kind

project, which will tremendously impact the operations of the entire SBI group.

"

About the Centralized Core Banking System

The B@NCS implemented in SBI is a state of the art core banking system which

has been successfully implemented in 40 countries across the world in more than

100 banks. The system offers fast product launching capability, support for all

delivery channels, true 24X7 anytime, anywhere service with no downtime.

EXIMBILLS is a state of the art Trade Finance System, which has been

successfully implemented by over 300 clients across 6000 workstations in 75

countries. In fact, China Systems is the largest supplier of Trade Finance

Systems worldwide.