Latin Finance - July 2008 - (Page 42)

guide corporate statement investment banking thus facilitating the consolidation of these large banks to create Panama’s largest financial institution. Under the Hood of COBIS UBS These recent successes are not unmerited. Under the hood of the COBIS system is powerful software and excellent configurations. COBIS as an application has its own Core, which in its first versions was called the Kernel, and which in the current incarnation is called CTS (Cobis Transaction Services). This component is the key to the functionality, performance, and robustness of COBIS. It is the heart of the system, giving it the ability to interact with multiple platforms, with different databases, administering a wide range of channels that span from traditional teller operations, service tables, and ATM’s, to the most sophisticated mobile banking access channels. This means that when two institutions are running on separate, equilateral platforms, COBIS core software actually steps in to create a space for different platforms to communicate, technically unifying institutions that have been joined only in name. Suddenly the problem of technological integration has a kinder face. How does COBIS technology solve the problem of integration? The answer lies in COBIS’ Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) that opens innumerable access channels to its functionalities, and easily integrates itself with other applications. As a result of SOA and intelligent programming, COBIS UBS is a highly flexible, scalable, and open solution, that has earned the name “universal”. It is oriented to fulfilling the needs of institutions of any size or segment, from the largest multinational bank to the smallest group-lending microfinance institution. It provides customer and partner access to the banking system through a wide range of electronic access channels, and offers progressive development for channels yet to come. It covers the business requirements for corporate banks, retail banks, microfinance banks, and financial cooperatives of all kinds. For the front office it provides user-friendly functionality for interaction with clients and the initiation of new services. Just as important, in the back office, it operates as a missioncritical system, doing high performance processing of all the transactions in the system. Finally, it offers valuable business intelligence for making low-risk decisions in a timely manner. It incorporates state-of-the-art tools that facilitate the implementation of formal and standard technological strategies. These tools make COBIS an integrated core banking solution that is modular and client oriented, with a flexible and effective implementation. The use of SOA, together with the COBIS TranServer middleware and object-oriented programming, encourages integration, 42 LATINFINANCE 2008 both of external systems with the core banking software, and different platforms with one another. In addition, the dedication of Cobiscorp technicians to providing support and maintenance, scalability, and portability has made COBIS a reference point in Latin American banking software solutions. The Future of Latin American Banking This compelling technology has carried COBIS into becoming the IT backbone of more than 70 financial institutions in 14 countries. COBIS is not only a favorite of large banks doing big mergers. It has a full range of microfinance specific functionalities for noncollateralized lending and other services. Dozens of savings, micro-loan, and mortgage cooperatives have adopted COBIS in an ASP (Application Service Provider) format. In its ASP offering, Cobiscorp, from strategically located operation centers, provides complete IT outsourcing at prices that are suited to the micromarket, in a business model that until now has not been seen in the Latin American financial services sector. Leaders, be they institutions or directors of institutions, face a big challenge when the integration of financial players is on the table. This challenge will not go away, in fact, it will become more important in the coming years. As conventional capital continues to look down the pyramid for investment opportunities, large banks in Latin America will continue to partner with smaller institutions. The technological integration game will be played over and over again. Leaders of financial institutions would be wise to seek platforms that not only provide a strategy for integration, but can also serve all market segments of an integrated, universal bank. COBIS presents itself as the perfect solution. I Cobiscorp 746 Walker Road Suite 16 Great Falls, Va. 22066 USA Telephone: +1 (703) 757 1760 Email: info@cobiscorp.com Website: www.cobiscorp.com http://www.cobiscorp.com http://www.cobiscorp.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Latin Finance - July 2008

Latin Finance - July 2008 Contents Investment Banking Outlook Compensation Survey Colombia Investment Banking Borrowers vs. Investors Banorte Profile Braskem Financing Strategy Brazil Hydro Finance Peru Port Privatization Panama Money Flows Argentina Local Markets Guide to Banking Technology Who Said That?

Latin Finance - July 2008

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