200 Years Old Bank Plays Well with Windows

Microsoft technology, with a focus on the Windows operating system, is a natural step in the evolution of the infrastructure behind a 200 years old bank in Europe. KAS Bank is but one example of the over 8,000 financial institutions across the world that use the SWIFT interface software and messaging services. Since recently, the Redmond company applauded the SWIFTReady Gold Financial Enterprise Application Integration award for its BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT, KAS Bank focused on Microsoft's technology in order to streamline connectivity. In this context, the financial institution will integrate into SWIFT the BizTalk Server 2006 and BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT.

"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," said Pim van der Horst, chief information officer of KAS Bank. "After conducting strenuous benchmark testing, SWIFTAlliance Access and SWIFTAlliance Gateway in combination with BizTalk Server and BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT were clearly the most robust choices."

But the implementation of BizTalk Server 2006 and BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT, is not the only move KAS Bank is making towards embracing Microsoft technology. The bank is also transitioning from the mainframe to the Windows operating system. The Redmond company is pushing Windows as a viable alternative to Linux, UNIX and mainframe solutions. KAS Bank is an example of how taking an operations platform off the mainframe and moving to Windows can streamline the connectivity process to a minimum.

"Microsoft is always eager to support its customers by developing competitive solutions to help them expand their businesses," said Sheida Hadji-Ashrafi, Worldwide industry manager payments at Microsoft. "KAS Bank recognizes the value of the wide range of functionality that SWIFT offers its customers through SWIFTNet, and this implementation of our BizTalk Server and the accompanying accelerator will allow them to leverage the economies of scale that Microsoft technologies can provide, and redirect resources back into their business to improve the customer experience."