Netherlands-based custody and clearing specialist Kas Bank is moving its payments processing away from the mainframe and installing Microsoft's BizTalk Server and BizTalk Accelerator for Swift messaging.
Kas Bank says it will deploy the Microsofttechnology to provide institutional investors with highly secure and reliable Swift connectivity.
Over 95% of the bank's transaction messaging occurs over the Swift network, says Microsoft. The implementation will enable Kas Bank to provide customers with payments processing, featuring faster connections and reduced costs.
"Swift connectivity forms such a large part of our own and our customers' business processes that it was vital for Kas Bank to have technology that could facilitate the scalability and flexibility required to rapidly respond to client demands in this area," says Pim van der Horst, CIO of Kas Bank.
The implementation of BizTalk Server and BizTalk Accelerator for Swift comes as KAS Bank migrates its entire operations platform off the mainframe and on to the Microsoft Windows platform, eliminating the need for multiple connectivity applications. This has enabled Kas Bank to reduce operational costs and increase service and straight-through processing (STP) levels.
The bank's full transition to the Microsoft platform is due to be completed in 2010.