SIB to launch new online banking service

Beginning early next year Sharjah Islamic Bank will provide a host of internet banking services.

This fall the bank has begun extensive analysis and evaluation of E-banking products that they will begin offering in the spring.

By partnering with NCR Corporation, a world leader in providing internet banking services, Sharjah Islamic Bank is able to offer one of the most thorough and secure internet banking solutions available. Delegates from the bank have been to Washington DC, USA to tour the NCR Corporation Datacenters and viewed first hand the first class solutions offered by NCR. This new services represents the latest in banking technology and international best business practices.

Mohammed Abdulla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank said, "Sharjah Islamic Bank has completed the evaluation and preparatory stages for its eServices Banking Project—Internet Banking." This new service affirms Sharjah Islamic Bank's commitment to adopt this evolving technology, and align itself with international best business practices, thereby fulfilling the bank's increased customer requirements in this demanding and challenging business environment.

Sharjah Islamic Bank has partnered with a leading international company—NCR Corporation, a company with a long time local presence and a solid track record in implementing E-banking solutions—in order to provide the highest quality service to its customers. This partnership gives the bank access to some of the best E-banking solutions in the world that include "Corollian" from CheckFree USA, a middleware called "Integrated Channel Manager" from NCR, as well as hardware that includes networking and security components, disaster recover software, technical systems integration, and comprehensive support that includes development and training.

The CEO additionally pointed out that the agreement signed with the NCR Corporation would include professional services that will provide the bank with a number of E-banking business services and will be available through the internet for all customers dealing with the bank. These services include account inquiries, account to account transfers, account openings, utility payment balances, credit card accounts, check book request, statements, and more. He went on to emphasize that this partnership ensures that these services will be delivered in a secure, swift, accurate and efficient manner.

Mr. Mohammed Abdulla also pointed out that the bank has spent significant time in the evaluation process, which included several presentations, site visits, and diligently overseen by a steering committee, all dedicated to ensuring that the bank provides its customers with a state of the art solution that is in line with industry best practices.

To reaffirm its commitment to the eBanking solution, Sharjah Islamic Bank participated in the "Corollian" user conference "Connect 2007" held in Asheville, North Carolina, USA and further visited the NCR Data Centre in Washington DC, where NCR provides hosting facilities to its customers. The NCR delegation along with its partners presented the latest accomplishments across the various eBusiness liens that included various eBusiness product roadmaps, risk and security case studies, and return on investment analysis. Additionally, Sharjah Islamic Bank's delegates witnessed a thorough demonstration of the data center's production systems, operations, management, and security controls at the Washington Data Center headquarters.