Core banking systems have been a blessing and a breath of fresh air for customers who were tired of transactions taking days to complete between branches of the same bank. With core banking systems, technology has moved from being a support system and business enabler to a driving force in the banking industry.

Core banking systems have given banks a convenient, centralized processing capability, and for customers, it translates to banking services anytime and anywhere. But like all good things, core banking systems also come with their share of challenges and opportunities.

Let us try to understand the system from both perspectives.

Core banking system challenges

Developing a reliable IT architecture

One of the major challenges that are faced by the core banking system is developing an IT architecture that is robust, reliable, and scalable. Banking structures are very complex and heterogeneous. Developing IT infrastructure and software that can cater to such complex structures can be quite overwhelming.

To add to it, the software and systems have to be scalable as more and more users begin to get on the platform.

Compliance

When it comes to the banking & finance industry, compliance is a major risk in most areas. It is all the more a challenge for core banking systems. Meeting the regulatory standards, cybersecurity protocols, privacy laws are a basic necessity for a core banking solution to be successful. And it is tougher than it sounds. Also, the regulatory environment is ever-changing, and keeping up with it is an added challenge.

Range of offering

The competition in the banking sector is immense, and that is not news to us. With everyone getting on the core banking bandwagon, the range of offerings that banks can provide on their CBS platforms is a deciding factor. Banks will try to as many modules of banking as they can, but up to what depth can banking operations be performed through the CBS platform is the question.

Core banking system opportunities

Customer relationship management

Despite the many challenges of keeping up with customer expectations, the core banking system is giving banks an opportunity to nurture their customer relationships better as well. With a single platform for customers to manage most of their transactions, banks can have a holistic view of customers’ interactions through a single database.

Processing speed and real-time capabilities

With core banking systems, banks are able to instantly process requests and offer real-time capabilities without customers having to shuttle to and from the branch. This is not just convenient for the customer but has also been found to significantly reduce costs for banks.

Document management

One of the biggest boons of the core banking system for both customers and providers is the elimination of paperwork. Document management was one of the biggest challenges for banks, and any negligence in this area could mean disaster for both parties in the past. With core banking solutions, document management has become much more flexible, empowering paperless banking.

Conclusion

The banking sector is constantly growing and evolving, and the core banking system has been one of its biggest achievements. With more advancements in technology, integration of AI, machine learning, and other aides, the future of core banking looks far more promising. And that future is not too far.