Internet Banking
Habib bank is not the first to launch its on-line web presence, but again it has to score points for
innovation.
The web site has been designed in house using open source Java, and tested, tested and tested again to
ensure customers will receive a quality service. The web site will, off course, offer more bandwidth
than the WAP services, so it is envisaged that a wider renge of services will be offered, such as letters
of credit for example. Visit habibbank.ae for more information.
SMS
Short Messaging Service allows brief text messages to be sent to your mobile telephone. Again, Habib Bank
has rooted its SMS backbone in Java, with Reza excited by the possibilities presented by this push
technology.
Basically, the SMS service can be bespoke to each and every customers' exact requirements.
The first message to go out on launch day was a welcome message, to introduce the service to Habib Bank's
customer base.
This event-based service will allow customers to choose exactly what they want to receive via
SMS-information such as when large deposits or withdrawals are made on their account.
This will also be made available to the bank's corporate customers, with Reza giving the example of a
company account receiving all information via SMS but the CEO only receiving notifications when payments
of, for example, greater than $1m were made.
ATM
The ATM switch network is the first in the world to be developed on the Java platform. The ATM controller
and the UAE SWITCH are fused into hPLUS. Since the ATM software is part of hPLUS, one can apply for other
delivery channels via the ATM itself. The services are very responsive; any client can test this by
walking up to an ATM, applying for HBZgsm Banking, then withdrawing some cash. Usually in under a minute
the user would receive an SMS notification of their transaction.
These four technologies offer a fine example of convergence of services. Users of any service will not be
able to choose the medium they prefer (i.e. web, SMS, WAP), but can log on to use HBZweb & HBZwap services
with the same user name and password. Keeping everything in-house has created enormous efficiency. There
are only two companies Reza has dealt with globally - Sun and Sybase.
He clearly believes Sun's powerful marketing message, running on Solaris server and entrusting the bank's
critical operations to Java-based application's praise enough for the technology company. Sybase is another
company Reza has been more than pleased with. "Sybase 12's Java in the database implementation is by far
superior to anything else out there", he said.
"They are not the largest database company in the world, but are the best. I have been impressed by their
professionalism," he enthused.
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An in-house e-mail system based on hPLUS has been pushing user-defined information to bank employees for
a number of booking for exceptions.
hPLUS users heuristics to look for exceptions in the day-to-day business operations, reporting any
abnormalities to the relevant people - or those who have requested such information.
Creating its own Java-based IT infrastructure also meant while every other operation across the globe was
investing (and panicking about) Y2K, Habib Bank's IT team quietly continued implementing the new swathe
of cutting edge projects.
The biggest problem for institutions is interpretability, according to Reza.
While some might cry 'Middleware!' at this sort of problem, Reza strongly believes "Middleware is not the
'magic glue' that binds a system together. Architecture is most important as this is what will determine
how effectively applications can adjust to changing business rules".
The proof of interpretability is found in HBZweb where a customer can find all their accounts, with full
leaf level details. This means that whether a customer needs a details on Time Deposits, Letters of Credit
or Outstanding Bills, everything is available from one screen source. Most bank executives don't even have
this power in their internal systems. Furthermore while banks refer to records older than six months as
archives, hPLUS provides customers history of more than five years on-line.
Using Java in its group-wide operations has clearly given Habib Bank a competitive advantage.
And in terms of cost justification, or cost benefit analysis, there is little or no need. The IT system has
already paid for itself, so the launch of WAP service and the web banking operation have not only been
straightforward, but minimal cost to the bank.
With such a strong IT backbone, why hasn't Habib Bank pack-aged up its Java offerings and sold them as off
the shelf products to other banks and financial institutions?
Because, according to Reza, the IT infrastructure if what sets it apart from the competition, and it has
always concentrated on banking, not IT.
"We are also constantly improving our system, so as soon as we sold it, it would be out dated", he said.
Acknowledging his IT Chief Syam Pillai and Deputy IT Chief Haja Alavudeen he said, "I'm proud to work with
the best crew in the world".
Despite the impressive nature of Reza's undertaking, he remains humble about the whole affair.
"All this technology will become standard. Everyone will have to implement them. All the technology will
become the same, and we will be on a level playing field", he suggested.
You would think in the light of all this, that Reza would purely think in terms of the IT side of the
banking industry.
Not so.
Reza is also a strong proponent of people, stressing that management attitude and expertise are more
important to the bank than the best IT in the world.
Although he did rather sheepishly add, "it's nice to be first".
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QUICKFACTS
HABIB BANK AG ZURICH
- In the UAE since the early 70s
- Started in Zurich in 1968
- 2nd most reliable bank in Switzerland according to The Banker Top 100 banks, recent survey
- Is not to be confused with Habib Bank, a completely separate entity
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