Last updated 29 March 2001

For the avoidance of doubt, this section includes: a) Core banking systems whose primary function is wholesale or treasury back office, b) 'Whole Bank' systems that include both retail and wholesale functionality, aimed at small institutions or international branches of larger institutions. For completeness, if in doubt, you should review the Core Retail section.

This is skeletal, and under development, please let me know if there are any vendors and products missing, give me any links, comments, and so on.

 Abraxsys

The flagship product of ABSL, details can be found at http://www.absl.com/abraxsys.htm The functionality is quoted as being based on IBS-90 - but in open systems architecture and using new technology such as C++.

By open systems they mean HP/Alpha/RS6000 etc.

 Atlas

The Atlas product is owned by a company called Mpct, previously (and confusingly) known as "Internet". It runs on Tandem fault tolerant platforms, now Compaq, and there are plans for an NT version, although these plans have been around for a while.

They've now done a website redesign at  www.mpct.com

 Equation DBA

Equation is a Kapiti product, (Kapiti previously being a UK based standalone company, now part of the Midas-Kapiti International Group, MKI). Runs exclusively on IBM's AS400 system, and historically has been an IBM mid-range system on S/36 and S/38.

More information from the horse's mouth at http://www.midas-kapiti.com/midas/pages/products/equatdba.htm

 Fiserv CBS

Fiserv's Comprehensive Banking System(CBS) runs only on IBM AS/400 and has both US Domestic (single currency) and International (I) versions. Web Site is at www.fiserv.com

A brief history: In the early 80's as S/34 based developed by Smith Weiss and Delker (Delkers still with it) for small town US Banks. Migrated to S/36 in the mid 80's. Obtained venture capital to expand, and migrated to S/38 for a worldwide deal with Citibank for the 'Consumer' finance houses. First installed internationally at Citibank in Australia. Migrated to AS/400 in late 80's with first major International client as HFC Bank near Heathrow, London

Now has 300+ US in-house Clients (Banks and Finance Companies) and 50+ non-US Clients (notables Pru Direct; ABM-AMRO (Asia, Europe and Latin America); Birmingham Midshires; Bank of America (Asia); Westpac Banking Corp. (Pacific and Australia).

(My thanks to Mike Molson of Sydney, Australia for contributing this entry - AM).

 Globus

Globus is a product by the Swiss Temenos company, and is well established. Their web presence is located at www.temenos.ch Although a Unix product since 1991, an NT version was released in 1998.

The web site is in English, and contains quite a lot of information - such as a list of all the banks that bought the product last year.

By the way, Temenos is a Greek word meaning 'sacred space'. I'm sure there's a story there somwehere.......

 IBIS

AS/400 product from Financial Objects, set up in 1995. Also a Unix version, called Quartz?

Unable to locate anything at all on the Web.

 IBS 90, IBS V5

In July 1997, ABSL (Advanced Banking Solutions Ltd), headquartered in London and owned by its Chairman and staff, bought certain intellectual property rights from Winter Partners, including IBS90 and IBSV5.

The web site www.absl.com doesn't list IBS at all under products, the focus is on Abraxsys, which appears to be pitched as the latest product. If anyone can explain further what has happened/will happen, please do.

 Midas DBA

Another product from the MKI stable, a product overview can be found here - http://www.midas-kapiti.com/midas/pages/products/midasdba.htm but as it runs on AS/400 (as does Kapiti Equation DBA) it's hard to see why they have two products that seem to compete with each other. Maybe this is changing.....

 Olympic

Glan Morgan from Temenos (Globus) tells me that this is a privately owned AS400 green screen private banking solution aimed at the Luxumbourg France, Monaco and Switzerland markets. Apparently they have 200+ sites.

Their website is at http://www.olympic.ch

 Symbols

Multi module full function product from System Access in Singapore, (funded by Warburg Pincus, no less). Find it at www.systemaccess.com I thought it was Unix and VAX, but the website doesn't say.. it goes on about Oracle 7 though, so I guess it's Unix. Clarifications anyone? The site makes a big pitch on Network computing and Network delivery architecture, too.

 Urbis

Strictly speaking FBA Urbis, this is a Unisys banking package. The product overview can be found here.  It's available in Unix or Unisys enterprise server flavours.

 Vertex

IBM Mainframe platform system. Rumoured but not seen.

Can you fill in any gaps? Are there any manufacturers that I've missed? Please, please tell me!