COMTRADE

New technology and banking have always gone hand in hand. This is evidenced by a large number of IT solutions intended for banking. There is practically no bank in Serbia today that, in addition to its core banking system, doesn’t have a significant number of different applications that generate enormous amounts of data.

COMPLEXITY AS ENEMY NO.1

The data for creating regulatory and management reports are located in different systems, which communicate with each other to a greater or lesser degree.

This approach to data management creates room for error (non-updated or inaccurate data, duplicated data, inconsistent data and the like) and affects the quality of the reports based on it.

The fact that employees have to manually check and verify data slows down the reporting process. The result is a lack of agility – making it difficult to create ad hoc reports and reducing the speed of information available to management for making strategic business decisions, and indirectly impacting on the quality of services the bank provides to clients.

CONTROL OF DATA FLOW AND REGULATIONS

When data is placed in a bank’s systems, its “life span” is just beginning. Managing data flow and gaining insight into the source of data to which end source becomes a major challenge with the growing number of reports and systems, but also with the amount of data itself.

The requirements of regulations, such as the GDPR or the Law on Personal Data Protection, which has been in force in Serbia since August, brought this problem to the fore.

DATA WAREHOUSE FOR BANKS

Today, more than ever, banks need a solution to consolidate data. The implementation of the Data Warehouse (DWH) solution involves the creation of a centralised database from a large number of separate IT systems of the bank, as well as external data sources.

In order for the bank to maximise the benefits of the DWH solution, it is necessary to focus on business – business scenarios and challenges, market requirements, regulations etc. In this sense, DWH should not be seen as the implementing of new technology, but as a Business Development project.

RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES: DATA MANAGEMENT MODEL

In response to the needs of banks in Serbia, Comtrade System Integration has developed the Data Management Model – a set of data integration solutions based on the modern DWH platform.

The Data Management Model is closely tailored to the banking sector, the local market and regulations. The solution is based on key industry standards (banking data dictionary, NBS regulatory compliance, Basel III standard, IFRS standard, ALM, profitability, campaign management and the like) and flexible architecture for superior configurability.

With the DHW platform, large volumes of banks’ operational data are first validated from a quality standpoint and then housed in a logical structure tailored to the needs of data analysis, report creation and ad hoc access to information. 

With the automatic creation of over 180 regulatory reports in compliance with local regulations, including the SSKR Report, the module helps banks prepare regulatory reports in accordance with the requirements of regulatory bodies in the country, including the National Bank of Serbia (central bank), the Deposit Insurance Agency, the Association of Serbian Banks, the Credit Bureau, the Tax Administration and the Central Securities Register

Using the DWH, banks solve the problem of inconsistent data. The centralised system enables all business sectors to produce unique results and reduces the time for data verification and reconciliation. 

Data that has previously been scattered across systems can be accessed quickly and easily without having to engage the IT sector.

For the bank’s management, faster access to high-quality data is the key to more effective strategic decision-making, which includes market segmentation, monitoring financial operations and the promotion of sales.

APPLICATION SCENARIOS

The Comtrade Data Management Model is the basis for introducing faster and more efficient processes at different organisational levels – from sales, marketing, risk management, accounting and asset management, to the IT sector, internal audit, business compliance control and strategic decision making.

CREATING REGULATORY, INTERNAL AND AD HOC REPORTS

With the automatic creation of over 180 regulatory reports in compliance with local regulations, including the SSKR Report, the module helps banks prepare regulatory reports in accordance with the requirements of regulatory bodies in the country, including the National Bank of Serbia [central bank], the Deposit Insurance Agency, the Association of Serbian Banks, the Credit Bureau, the Tax Administration and the Central Securities Register.

A large number of Business Intelligence (BI) tools are available for users to independently access and analyse data. The application of these tools optimises time across all business sectors participating in the reporting process. The bank can implement tools it already uses and introduces new ad hoc reporting features tailored to the dynamics and needs of the business.

PROVISION CALCULATION

The module allows for timely and accurate estimations of Expected Credit Loss (ECL) and the subsequent level of fair provisions on performing and non-performing credit portfolios in line with IFRS9 impairment guidelines.

ECL calculation is performed automatically for receivables at all stages (S1, S2, S3), while calculation for stage 3 is possible at both the aggregate and individual levels.

The application provides easy data entry and management and also stores a history of all user-defined data for easy revision.

CALCULATION OF THE OPTIMAL COLLATERAL ALLOCATION

Considering the impact of collateral – not only on provision calculation but also on regulatory reporting requirements – the module allows banks to automate this complex process.

Through a set of rules aligned with local regulations, the solution examines the suitability of collateral to be accepted as an adequate or appropriate security instrument. Using bank-defined parameters, the solution algorithm uses all the relevant model data and parameters to optimise collateral values in a way that determines the optimal collateral allocation for receivables in order to obtain the minimum provision value.

In addition to optimisation in accordance with NBS regulations, the module is configurable and supports the optimisation of collateral allocation in accordance with the requirements of the Basel III standard (RWA) and banks’ internal risk methodology.

CALCULATION OF DAYS IN DEFAULT

Calculating days in default, which is one of the key risk management calculations, is a major challenge for most banks in developing and maintaining solutions. The module responds to the needs of banks by providing the calculation of days in default for all bank receivables, in accordance with all risk management requirements.

The calculation integrates all models of calculation (economic days, materially significant in accordance with the bank’s risk methodology and materially significant days in accordance with the requirements of the NBS regulations), which can be adjusted to the needs of the bank.

DATA GOVERNANCE

Given the fact that the Data Management Model contains a large amount of data obtained through the integration of different source systems, the ability of a bank to effectively manage all that data is of great importance. In this sense, the Data Governance Module is integrated and provides a bank with an overview of what data was originally obtained from which systems, what business terminology was used to designate that data, the current stage of the life cycle of that data and where it is used in reporting.

RELIABLE BANK TRANSFORMATION PARTNER

Comtrade System Integration has the largest team in the Balkans in the field of business analytics, which works closely with the client in all project phases – from analysis of existing systems, the creation of an implementation strategy, solutions customisation and maintenance, to technical support and customer training.

Many years of experience in implementing various DWH solutions, domain expertise and a consulting approach provide a guarantee of a successful project for transforming your bank.