February 8, 2013 - Multi-award winner Islamic software provider, Path Solutions today announced that Burj Bank Limited, Pakistan, a key subsidiary of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Group has gone live on iMAL Islamic Core Banking System in just nine months across all the 75 branches countrywide replacing legacy system Symbols from SunGard.

With the successful roll-out of iMAL at Burj Bank, Path Solutions has executed a record core banking replacement for projects of similar size. The implementation of iMAL, which was a key part of the bank's transformation initiatives has started in May 2012 and was completed on Monday 4th February 2013.

"Prior to Go Live, we had carried out multiple simulation exercises at country level, ensured validity of data and also ensured that training was imparted to staff countrywide. This was an error free cut over and a unique example of seamless migration, given the fact that the team had a limited delivery time of nine months for migration from Symbols to iMAL - which is an implementation in record time never done before", commented Ghazanfar Siddique, Project Head - Core Banking, Information Technology at Burj Bank.

In an extract of letter from Ahmed Khizer Khan, the CEO of Burj Bank to the bank's key project members, Khan said "This is an amazing achievement, only made possible with the hard work and long hours put in by the in-house core banking team as well as the provision of excellent training and support by Path Solutions' project team".

Commenting on the migration process, Alain Abou Khalil, SVP Global Professional Services at Path Solutions said, "Burj Bank is a large Islamic bank with 75 branches and tremendous amount of data to be migrated. The migration to the new core banking system has been accomplished on time and on budget within nine-month schedule achieving high level of customer satisfaction. The new core banking system was rolled out with a big bang approach and was implemented across the 75 branches in one go, without any issues. The EOD (End of Day) was also successfully executed, confirming the accuracy of financials".

According to Mitri Karam, Project Director PS at Path Solutions, multiple success factors led to the successful roll-out of iMAL at Burj Bank. Among them the detailed scoping exercise carried out by both parties, the exceptional handling of the whole migration exercise, Path Solutions' outstanding Project Management and Implementation Methodologies and experience in delivering core banking projects and of course the commitment and dedication of Burj Bank and Path Solutions' PMO and project teams.

Burj Bank is currently using iMAL Islamic Core Banking Solution for the following banking operations:  

  • Branch Automation
  • Corporate Internet Banking
  • Retail and Corporate Financing
  • Collection Management
  • Financing Application Management
  • ATMs
  • Islamic Profit Calculation
  • Accounting & Financial Control
  • SWIFT & RTGS Transfers
  • Reporting.

About Path Solutions
Kuwait-based Path Solutions is a multi-award winning Islamic banking software house specialized in the provision of integrated solutions and services to the Islamic financial marketplace. The company offers a wide range of IAS-compliant integrated solutions covering Core Banking, Customer Service Management, Investment Banking, Fund Management, Treasury and Trading in GCC and Global Capital Markets.

Path Solutions' flagship product, iMAL is built on open architecture, offers low cost of ownership and uses established standards such as HTTP/S and XML. It is also available as a Model Bank implementation, with best practice processes built-in.

Path Solutions sharply focus on building quality and excellence in its product development, delivery, deployment, training and support processes. The company has over two decades of experience in combining knowledge of banking markets worldwide with deep expertise of how technology is best applied in rapidly changing, highly demanding large-scale environments.

Path Solutions differentiates itself through its AAOIFI-certified software solutions and its strong implementation track record. Gartner placed Path Solutions in its 'Market Trends' 2011 report at the forefront as the first IT service provider for the Islamic banking industry in regulatory compliance and technology flexibility and with a solid expertise in a number of system replacements.

Learn more about Path Solutions: www.path-solutions.com

About Burj Bank Ltd.
With a vision to be "the Islamic bank of choice", Burj Bank (BURJ) has emerged as a dynamic new player on the banking horizon of Pakistan. The bank offers a diversified range of Shari'ah-compliant funded and non-funded products & services aimed at both individual and corporate customers. The bank also offers investment and corporate advisory services besides an array of Islamic retail banking products. The bank has a Shari'ah Board headed by Prof. Mufti Munib-Ur-Rehman who is the bank's Shari'ah advisor.

Burj Bank has a rich Middle Eastern background with the financial & technical support of a great institution such as ICD Jeddah (Islamic Corporation for Development of the Private Sector) which is the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah. Other major shareholders include Bank Al-Khair from Bahrain, Gargash Enterprises from the UAE and Al-Romaizan from Saudi Arabia. Burj Bank is the first double AA Rated Bank for Shari'ah Quality in Pakistan. The Management team of Burj Bank comprises of recognized banking professionals led by Ahmed Khizer Khan who is the President & CEO of the bank and is a renowned name in the global banking industry. Burj Bank is based on the defining values of purity and integrity, and the progressive values of passion and devotion. It is the bank's mission "to provide innovative and efficient Islamic banking solutions to exceed customer expectations while optimizing shareholder value". Learn more about Burj Bank: www.burjbankltd.com

© Press Release 2013