Cognizant has been chosen as a strategic partner to three Finnish financial institutions – Savings Banks Group, Oma Savings Bank Plc and POP Bank Group – to build and operate a shared core banking platform to enable their digital transformation plans. The engagement, which includes acquisition of the current technology services provider Oy Samlink Ab, will further enhance Cognizant's ability to serve clients across the Nordics.
Under a multi-year agreement, Cognizant will transform and operate the banks' common core banking systems and support each individual bank's enterprise digital strategy. The new core banking platform, based on Temenos T24 and Temenos Payment Hub (TPH), will enable the banks to streamline processes and have greater agility and scalability while helping reduce overall costs of systems and business operations.
The banks will be able to launch new products and services more quickly and cost-effectively, and their customers will benefit from improved experiences across mobile, internet and in-branch banking. All in all, more than 10 percent of Finnish banking deposits and loans will be managed by the new platform.
As part of the agreement, Cognizant will acquire Oy Samlink Ab, the current technology services provider owned by Savings Banks Group, Aktia Bank PLC, Oma Savings Bank Plc, Handelsbanken, Posti Group PLC, POP Bank Group and several other minority shareholders. Oy Samlink Ab associates have deep expertise in the Finnish banking market, and the company has two delivery centers in Finland. The addition of Oy Samlink Ab will further strengthen Cognizant's banking capabilities, and expand its network of delivery centers in the Nordics.
"We needed a strategic partner with global scale, and proven success in modernizing banking IT systems and delivering the type of robust capabilities required to foster our collective digital transformation goals – a key part of which is the core banking platform renewal. This is the most significant digital transformation project to date in the banks' histories," said Tomi Närhinen, Oy Samlink Ab's Chairman of the Board.
Learn more about Cognizant's banking offerings and also check out our banking case stories.
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