Finance

13 must-see movies and series about banking and finance you cannot miss

11. Startup (2016-2018)

This TV series explores the intersection of finance and technology in the world of cryptocurrency startups. It follows a group of entrepreneurs, a corrupt FBI agent, and a gang lord, all interconnected through the pursuit of wealth and power.

Trailer: 

12. "The Accountant" (2016)

"The Accountant" is a thriller starring Ben Affleck as a math savant who works as a freelance accountant for some of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations. The film combines elements of finance, action, and intrigue.

Trailer:

... and last but not least ....

13. "Money Heist" (La Casa de Papel) (2017-present)

While not a traditional finance series, "Money Heist" has gained international acclaim for its intricate heists and the manipulation of the Spanish Mint's money supply. It's a thrilling and suspenseful series that combines action with elements of economic strategy.

Trailer: 

These movies and series offer a captivating look into the world of banking, finance, and the dynamics of money. Whether you're interested in financial crises, the stock market, or the pursuit of wealth, there's something on this list for everyone. So, grab your popcorn and prepare to be both entertained and enlightened by these must-see titles. Enjoy!

by BOS Communications

INCAT joins the Bulgarian Fintech Association

Sofia, Bulgaria – August 31, 2023 – INCAT Ltd. - the provider of a cloud-native and fully flexible BOS core banking system, has joined the Bulgarian Fintech Association (BFA). The association is the leading voice for the fintech industry in Bulgaria, and INCAT’s membership is a testament to the company’s commitment to the Bulgarian market.

We are excited to join the BFA and become a part of the growing fintech community in Bulgaria. 

- said Piotr Hanusiak, CEO of INCAT.

We believe that the BFA is a valuable resource for our company, and we look forward to working with other members to advance the fintech industry in Bulgaria.

Piotr Hanusiak emphasizes the importance of the Bulgarian market for the growth of the company. INCAT is in the process of the first implementations of its system for clients from Bulgaria, and it also works for clients from the entire region. BOS drives leading fintech projects in Lithuania and Hungary as well.

We are pleased to welcome INCAT to the BFA. 

- said Valeri Valtchev, Co-founder and Chairman of the BFA.

INCAT is a fast-growing provider of core banking solutions for modern fintechs and digital banks, and its membership is a valuable addition to our association.
We look forward to working with INCAT to promote innovation and growth in the Bulgarian fintech industry. 

INCAT’s core banking system, BOS, is a comprehensive solution that provides modern financial organizations such as fintechs and neo banks with the tools they need to succeed in today’s digital age. The company's solutions help to create unrivaled financial products, as well as improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better customer service. More: www.incat.eu

The BFA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of the fintech industry in Bulgaria. The association promotes the development of fintech, provides education and training, and advocates for public policy that supports the industry. More: www.fintechbulgaria.org

by BOS Communications

16 women who changed IT history

Although women are increasingly choosing to work in IT, the statistics are still inexorable. According to a report by the 'Carrots Foundation', women account for only 30% of the IT industry, and it does not look like this trend will change any time soon.
Yet it was women who laid the foundations for the current shape of technology and made the discoveries that still influence the IT world today. For this reason, we have compiled a list of women who have had a significant impact on the development of the IT industry and who, through their stories, inspire and show that technology is not an exclusively male domain.

Women in IT - the most famous names and their achievements

Computer science is a scientific discipline that is probably associated by most of us as one that has basically always been dominated by men. There is nothing surprising in such a perception, as this is indeed the case, as confirmed by cyclical studies conducted all over the world. Women in IT, although relatively few in number, nevertheless play very important roles in some cases. There is no shortage of female software authors, engineers or game developers among them, although the popularity of their names certainly remains incomparably lower than that of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. In order to change this, today we have decided to remind you of the most important - in our opinion - women who, thanks to their achievements, have made a name for themselves in the world of IT, in some cases significantly influencing its development. At the same time, we hope that, as a result, in some time we will be able to present again other well-known women in IT and their achievements, confirming the thesis that gender does not matter much when it comes to the ability to perform complex operations using computers and increasingly advanced technologies. So, if you are a woman and have so far wondered whether you should tie your career and future to IT, having an aptitude for it, the profiles below should allow you to effectively dispel your doubts.

Women have played an important role in the field of computing and information technology, developing some of the most important elements of modern IT.
Meet 16 exceptional women who changed the history of the IT industry once and for all.

  Ada Lovelace - pioneer of programming

London-born Lady Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), although the daughter of the poet Lord George Byron, had a passion and gift for mathematics from an early age.
She is recognized as the world's first computer programmer because she developed a way in which a machine called an analytical engine could perform calculations. This machine, invented by her friend, mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, is considered the first universal computer.
Lovelace created an algorithm that was soon recognized as the world's first computer program, and it is still used in the creation of today's applications.

Edith Clarke - the first female engineer
"I always wanted to be an engineer, but I thought women shouldn't go into things like engineering studies." - claimed Edith Clarke and...she was sorely mistaken, for a dozen years after that statement she became the world's first ever female electrical engineer.

Edith Clarke received a small inheritance at the age of 18, which put her through Vassar College, then a sister institution of Yale; she graduated in 1908. She soon began working full-time as manager of the all-female 'human computers' team at AT&T.

Determined to further her career by doing what 'women should not do', she then enrolled at MIT and became the first woman of that institution to earn a master's degree in electrical engineering. But even with her achievements to date, no technology company wanted to hire her as a female engineer. As a result, Clarke left the US to teach physics at the Women's College in Istanbul. However, she did not give up on her dream of a career in engineering and returned to the US after a few years to work for General Electric, which allowed her to achieve her desired goal. At General Electric, Clarke created and patented The Clarke Calculator, a graphical device that solves equations used to transmit electricity over transmission lines longer than 250 meters. Her huge contribution to intercontinental telephone communications silenced the skeptics; in 1922, at the age of 38, Edith Clarke became the first professional electrical engineer.

The ENIAC women: pioneers of computing

In 1946, on the eve of its debut, the world's first general purpose computer failed. As a result, seven women engineers were delegated to rescue the project and had one night to fix the device called ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), which was the ancestor of today's computers. These women included:

Betty Jean Jennings Bartik,
Kathleen McNulty,
Mauchly Antonelli,
Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum,
Frances Bilas Spence,
Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer,
Frances Snyder Holberton.

The system was neither small nor simple, weighing 30 tonnes and covering 140 square metres. It was equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors and 5 million hand-soldered connectors. Given its ability to calculate ballistic trajectories, the need for it to work was great - the US was then plunged deep into World War II.

Unfortunately, although the project succeeded, the ENIAC heroines, did not receive the recognition they deserved for quite some time. It was only in 1997 that they were inducted into the Women in Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame. In 2014, Walter Isaacson, in his book Innovators, juxtaposed the ENIAC Seven with the likes of Steve Jobs and Nikola Tesla, and a few years ago, a documentary film entitled The Eniac Programmers Project was released, detailing how women came up with the way to program the machine.

Grace Hooper - bug expert

American Grace Hopper (1906-1992) was an admiral in the US Navy and one of the first programmers of the Mark 1 mechatronic calculator, the prototype of today's computers, used in World War II operations. She also created a 500-page textbook detailing the basic principles of computer machines. But this is not the end of her contribution to the IT industry.

Hopper and her team created the first ever computer compiler, which became the precursor to the COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) programming language. It was not long before COBOL was to prove to be one of the most widely used languages in the world of IT, and although today some experts consider it to be obsolete, it is still being used.

Grace Hopper was the first to introduce the term 'bug', for bugs in code. It is related to an anecdote that a moth once flew into the hardware on which Hooper was working and caused a short circuit. Since then, Hopper has popularised the term 'computer bug' (bug in English is a bug), which refers to a computer program error.

Margaret Hamilton - programming for NASA

Margaret Hamilton is an American programmer, systems engineer and founder of two technology companies who spent years designing NASA systems.
She was director of software engineering at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, which created the onboard flight software that enabled Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's Apollo missions. On 22 November 2016, Hamilton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama for her work on NASA's Apollo moon missions.

Sister Mary Kenneth Keller - the first woman with a PhD in computer science

The first woman to receive a PhD in computer science was a nun: Mary Kenneth Keller entered the 'Sisters of Charity' in 1932, taking her vows in 1940. Keller earned a master's degree in mathematics from DePaul University in Chicago and studied briefly at Dartmouth. There she was instrumental in developing a key computer language: a universal symbolic instruction code for beginners called BASIC.

With BASIC, writing software was no longer restricted to mathematicians and scientists. Her contributions made computer use much more accessible to the wider population. Keller returned to the Midwest and earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in 1965, and then headed the computer science department at Clarke College in Iowa, where she worked for the next 20 years.

Susan Kare - the Steve Jobs discovery

Although Susan Kare worked for Microsoft early in her career, her greatest achievements came when she worked with Steve Jobs at Apple.

Kare dreamt of a career as an artist and, after finishing school, came to San Francisco to find her opportunity. A chance meeting with an old high school friend led to an interview for a job at Apple. Steve Jobs, inspired by Xerox's graphical user interface (GUI), was looking for an artist to design Macintosh icons. Kare's designs appealed to Jobs enough that he decided to work with her.

Using a block of millimetre paper, Kare therefore designed icons for the Mac that met three principles: they were simple, elegant and understandable. As part of her work at Apple, Susan also created the Chicago typeface, used on the first four generations of the iPod. Kare's designs were even executed with Jobs' obsessive and characteristic attention to detail, which incidentally still defines Apple today.

Carol Shaw - Atari developer

Carol Shaw was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. Although she excelled in mathematics from the start, it wasn't until she inherited a model electric train from her brothers that Shaw started tinkering with electronics.

After graduating from Berkeley's computer science graduate program, Shaw accepted a position at the Atari game company in the late 1970s. Wearing thick-rimmed glasses and an immortal flannel shirt, she began designing and programming video games. Shaw programmed one of Atari's most famous shooters, River Raid, which was voted the best wargame of 1984, and Shaw's work as a pioneering game designer made her a legend for two generations of gamers.

Adele Goldberg - pioneer of the UI 

Without Adele Goldberg, the Apple desktop would look very different today. Working at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Adele was the only woman in the group that created Smalltalk-80, one of the most popular and influential early programming languages.
She also introduced Smalltalk to Steve Jobs, who implemented a lot of the language's concepts in Apple's first products.
Beyond Apple, many modern graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have design standards that relate directly to Goldberg's original work.

Radia Perlman - "Don't call me the mother of the internet".

Radia Perlman is considered by many to be the founder of the Internet, although she strongly denies this, insisting that "the Internet was not invented by one person". What is certain, however, is that it was Perlman who created the algorithm behind the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which is a vital part of the foundations of the Internet.

Perlman was one of only a handful of women who began her research career at MIT, where she published her textbook Interconnection in 2000, greatly simplifying network routing and bridging. "My book created order," she later said.

Despite her individual successes, notably the creation of the STP protocol, Perlman emphasises the importance of teamwork in technology development and does not want to focus solely on her achievements.

There are, of course, many more women who have made significant contributions to the development of technology, but we have selected profiles of these ten who, over the years, have proven that they can blaze trails in various areas of IT and are not afraid of the challenges of creating modern IT solutions. We wish all women who have aspirations to enter the IT industry not to hesitate and try their hand at it, following the example of the heroines of our article.

by BOS Communications

Cybersecurity in core banking systems: ensuring digital transformation with BOS

In today's digital era, where financial services are increasingly moving towards online platforms, cybersecurity plays a critical role in safeguarding sensitive customer data and ensuring the integrity of core banking systems. As organizations embrace digital transformation, it is imperative to adopt robust cybersecurity measures to protect against evolving cyber threats.

Importance of cyberse2curity in core banking systems

Core banking systems serve as the backbone of financial institutions, managing critical operations such as account management, transactions, and customer information.
With the rise in cyber-attacks targeting financial institutions, robust cybersecurity measures are essential to safeguard against data breaches, financial fraud, and reputational damage. A comprehensive cybersecurity framework is necessary to protect core banking systems from both external and internal threats, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data.

Key Cybersecurity Challenges in Core Banking Systems

Today's banking systems, especially core banking systems, face a range of risks and challenges in the area of cybersecurity, including:

Data breaches
Cybercriminals continuously target financial institutions to gain unauthorized access to customer data, leading to identity theft, financial loss, and legal implications.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
APTs are sophisticated attacks that aim to breach security defenses and gain prolonged access to the core banking systems, potentially causing significant damage.

Insider threats
Internal employees with privileged access can pose a significant risk to core banking systems by intentionally or inadvertently compromising sensitive data.

Regulatory compliance
Financial institutions must adhere to stringent regulatory requirements, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Compliance with these regulations is crucial to avoid penalties and maintain customer trust.

BOS approach to cybersecurity

A fully flexible and scalable BOS system lives as much as the best financial safety standards. It’s additionally compliant with the maximum crucial enterprise requirements, as tested and confident through an outside certification body. Here’s how BOS makes it:

Certified practices:

As a BOS provider, INCAT maintains an Information Security Management System (ISMS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001 to proactively manage information security risks and verify the effectiveness of technical and organizational controls through internal and external audits.

Vulnerability Management

As part of Vulnerability management, we run activities such as vulnerability scanning or security patch management, which we perform not only at the BOS level, but also at the level of supporting services. Thanks to this, we are aware of the existence of vulnerabilities not only in our product but in the entire system where BOS operates. This in turn enables us to implement the entire process in accordance with the principles of continuous risk management.

Secure Infrastructure
BOS core banking systems are built on a secure cloud infrastructure, leveraging industry-leading security protocols and encryption standards to protect customer data. Cloud infrastructure facilitates the use of security against cyberattacks - DDOS attacks, detection of intruders, or behavioral anomalies. The cloud makes it easier to resist such attacks.

Continuous Monitoring
BOS employs real-time monitoring and threat intelligence to detect and respond to potential cyber threats promptly. Monitoring solution leverages advanced analytics and machine learning to identify anomalies and proactively mitigate risks. We use the SIEM Security Information and Event Management system for monitoring.

Access Controls
BOS implements strong access controls, including multi-factor authentication and Role - Based Access Control (RBAC), to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data and functionalities within the core banking systems.

In the realm of core banking systems, cybersecurity is of paramount importance to protect sensitive data, maintain operational continuity, and uphold customer trust.

BOS's approach to cybersecurity encompasses a range of measures aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to cyber threats. By adopting a comprehensive cybersecurity framework, organizations can leverage the benefits of digital transformation while safeguarding their core banking systems against evolving security risks.

by BOS Communications

Smooth Transitions: Zero Downtime Deployment for Next-Generation Core Banking Systems

In today's fast-paced banking industry, the ability to implement new versions of core banking systems without any disruptions is crucial. Financial institutions need to keep up with customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements while ensuring continuous service availability. This challenge has led to the concept of zero downtime deployment, where upgrades, improvements, and new features are seamlessly integrated into the core banking system without causing any interruptions.

ZDD– what’s it? 

Zero downtime deployment (ZDD) refers to the process of deploying new versions of a core banking system without causing any disruption to its ongoing operations. It allows financial institutions to introduce updates, improvements, and new features seamlessly while maintaining continuous service availability for customers.

In our company, we offer various capabilities and features that support zero downtime deployment. BOS's architecture is designed to ensure high availability and scalability, enabling financial institutions to implement new versions of their core banking systems smoothly. They leverage cloud-native technologies, microservices, and containerization to achieve this objective.

Rolling deployment

One of the key approaches used to implement zero downtime deployment is the concept of rolling updates (or rolling deployments) With this technique, new versions of BOS system are deployed incrementally, in small batches or segments, rather than all at once. By deploying updates in this manner, the risk of system failures or disruptions is minimized. If any issues are encountered during the deployment of a particular segment, it can be rolled back while ensuring the rest of the system remains operational.

"Despite the increasing demand for core banking system transformations, only around 30% of such transformations have successfully migrated ledgers and products to new systems, indicating the complexity involved”.
Source: McKinsey Digital

At INCAT, we provide comprehensive documentation and resources that guide financial institutions on how to achieve zero downtime deployment. By following these guidelines, financial institutions can mitigate risks and ensure a smooth transition to new versions of their core banking systems.

We also attach great importance to proper testing and monitoring during the implementation process. Thorough testing, including unit testing, integration testing, and performance testing, helps identify potential issues before they affect the live system. Continuous monitoring of the system during and after the deployment ensures early detection of any anomalies and allows for immediate remediation.

Benefits of Zero Downtime Deployment

Uninterrupted Banking Services
With ZDD, banks can update their systems, introduce new features, and fix bugs without causing disruptions to customer access or transaction processing. This ensures uninterrupted banking services, preventing any inconvenience or financial loss to customers.

Seamless User Experience
ZDD ensures a seamless user experience by eliminating any service disruptions or downtime during the deployment process. Customers can continue using the banking applications without any interruptions, accessing their accounts, making transactions, and utilizing various financial services offered by the bank.

Continuous Availability
Core banking systems need to be available 24/7, as customers expect round-the-clock access to their financial services. ZDD enables continuous availability by allowing updates and changes to be deployed without affecting system uptime.

"Banks worldwide spend millions of dollars each year maintaining their core banking systems, which handle high transaction volumes and are expected to function without interruptions."

By following best practices and leveraging the resources provided by platforms like BOS financial institutions can successfully implement new versions of their core banking systems while ensuring continuous service availability for their customers.

by BOS Communications

BOS' provider with "Forbes Diamonds 2023 Award". INCAT joins the fastest growing companies in Poland.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the "Forbes Diamonds 2023" Gala was held at the Haston City Hotel in Wrocław (Poland), organized by the Polish editorial office of Forbes. During the event, the fastest-growing Polish companies were awarded. One of the statuettes went to our company.

“Forbes Diamonds 2023” is an annual ranking of companies that have most effectively increased their value in the last three years. It is a confirmation of strength, as well as the ability to build brand value and quality on the market.

What is important, the accolade is not awarded by a subjective jury on the basis of unspecified criteria, but the list is compiled by analysts from Dun&Bradstreet on the basis of the Swiss method of company valuation, taking into account financial results and the value of assets of enterprises. Finally, the award is given to companies with the highest dynamics of value growth.

Our company received a statuette in the category “Small companies with sales revenues from PLN 5 to 50 million”. On behalf of the organization, the award was received by Piotr Hanusiak – the leader of the company.

The award from Forbes Polska is a accolade for the entire team, so we congratulate all our employees and wish them further success, which will be confirmed by similar titles. 🏆

A few photos from the gala can be seen below, and the full photo report can be found at the link.

by BOS Communications

Unlocking agility and scalability: exploring BOS’ microservices architecture

Microservices architecture has become a popular approach for developing complex software systems. The use of microservices enables organizations to create software systems that are scalable, resilient, and easy to maintain. Does microservice architecture also work in financial institutions? And how microservices can prove themselves in IT solutions for fintechs and neo-banks?

This is another article from the BOS Inside series, in which we present the architecture of our flexible core banking software.

What is MSA?

The microservices architecture, also known as microservices, involves developing computer applications as a collection of loosely coupled services that operate independently of each other. Each service performs a specific function and communicates with other services using lightweight communication protocols. Microservices are autonomous in their development, deployment and maintenance, meaning that they can be developed independently of the rest of the system.

Microservices in core banking

One of the examples of IT systems based on microservices is BOS – a transactional system dedicated for modern fintechs and digital banks. The BOS system consists of tens of product microservices. The product microservice allows you to handle all phases of the product, starting from initiation, through product processing in the system, and ending with product closure. The rationale behind the choice of such an architecture for BOS was primarily business scalability (selection of expected business lines with the possibility of future expansion) and technological (performance).

The product microservice allows you to handle all phases of the product, starting from initiation, through product processing in the system, ending with product closure.

How does the idea of microservices relate to the banking system in practice?

Let's imagine a transaction. What is most important, apart from the security of its implementation, is the processing time. Many things are checked as the banking system processes transactions. Financial conditions ranging from available funds through various types of limits to exchange rates. The client is also important. Do we need detailed customer data to process transactions in the context of high performance requirements? No, basic identification and descriptive information is usually sufficient. Taking this into account, from the point of view of transactional processing, a well-prepared customer database containing only the necessary information, such as identification data or residence qualifier, is sufficient. Everything is done quickly and efficiently. But from the point of view of the marketing department, things look different. It is necessary to have extensive knowledge about the client, its history, documents, connections, etc. Other types of information are necessary from the point of view of the credit assessment department.

In practice, the scenarios given here involve several independent and completely different scaled databases and supporting applications. From a transaction engine focused on instant transaction processing, to a limits database, to replicated customer knowledge placed in another database containing hundreds of customer information, to an independent database storing data on interpenetrating relationships between individual customer records. This is what microservices provide.

Not only technically, completely differently tuned environments, but by separating individual applications from each other, the possibility of independent development on the CIS (Customer Information System), CRS (Customer Relationships System) or Core (Transactional engine) modules.

This loosely coupled architecture allows to easily introduce adapters with very narrow functionality, such as SEPA adapter or SWIFT adapter which are used to connect to payment networks, meeting their standards, MT and ISO 20022 respectively.

Microservices in finance

Other example... Financial institutions generally recognize the advantages of developing more contemporary systems, but what if they wish to explore a novel functionality that customers are beginning to request? How can they conduct real-world testing without the risk of disrupting a well-functioning system? This is where the concept of microservices comes into play. By conceptualizing each fundamental element as an independent microservice, institutions can effectively evaluate and incorporate new features. For instance, if there is a new feature related to payment processing, they can integrate a dedicated payment service capable of seamlessly exchanging data with existing applications. If the new feature necessitates Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, they can introduce the corresponding service gradually, gradually constructing a novel feature, application, or even an entire organization, while ensuring seamless communication between all components.

What if the customers wish to explore a novel functionality that customers are beginning to request? How can they conduct real-world testing without the risk of disrupting a well-functioning system? This is where the concept of microservices comes into play.

Now let's see in which areas of financial activity, microservice architecture is particularly applicable.

Fraud Detection:
Financial institutions heavily rely on fraud detection systems to protect their customers and mitigate risks. Microservices architecture allows for the development of specialized microservices dedicated to fraud detection algorithms, anomaly detection, and pattern recognition. These microservices can work in tandem to analyze large volumes of data and identify potential fraudulent activities in real-time.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
Microservices architecture can enhance CRM systems in the financial sector. Each microservice can handle specific aspects of customer interactions, such as customer onboarding, personalized offers, transaction history, and customer support. This modular approach enables banks to deliver tailored services and experiences to their customers while maintaining a high level of scalability and flexibility.

Risk Management:
Microservices architecture can be utilized to develop risk management systems for financial institutions. Different microservices can be responsible for data collection, risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and reporting. This distributed architecture allows for better risk analysis, faster response times, and easier integration with external data sources or regulatory systems.

Payment Processing:

Microservices architecture enables financial institutions to build robust and scalable payment processing systems. Each microservice can handle a specific aspect of the payment process, such as authentication, transaction validation, fraud detection, and settlement. This modular approach allows for flexibility and easier maintenance of the system.

Of course, microservices are not a cure-all. So far, there is no architecture that would be free of defects, and at the same time would be suitable for any type of application. It is no different with microservices.

If you are considering implementing a microservices architecture, the key question you should ask yourself is not "Do?", but "How?", because incorrect development of technical requirements and structure, or lack of thoughtful handling of traffic between servers, can ultimately do more harm than good. good. Neglecting these issues at the planning stage may result in throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and as a result, it will most likely turn out that the architecture, which was supposed to make many things easier, in fact gives sleepless nights to all interested parties. Then it is worth considering the support of a technical partner who has experience in creating solutions based on microservices. Thanks to this, you will avoid many difficulties related to implementation and at the same time you will be sure that you will have an efficient release and a system that can be modified flexibly to adapt to rapidly changing business requirements on an ongoing basis.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Michał Mazur is the Chief Analyst at INCAT Sp. z o.o. - the provider of BOS Core banking system.
In his over 20-year career, he has been involved in financial and IT sector projects. He has extensive experience in project management, analysis, business development, system architecture, and quality assurance. Michał  is a graduate of AGH University of Science and Technology.

Contact an author: michal.mazur@incat.com.pl

by BOS Communications

4 cutting-edge business models of fintech companies

The fintech sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The global fintech market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.58% between 2023 and 2026, with the market size expected to reach $305.7 billion by 2026. The fintech industry attracted $105 billion in investment in 2020, which is an increase of 31% from 2019. In comparison, the overall venture capital industry saw a decline of 9% in the same year.  No wonder many people starting their adventure with a business look at the fintech sector as a kind of promised land. In the article below, we analyze the 4 most popular business models that are worth exploring when taking your first steps in the fintech industry. 

Nr 1 Payment App 

In the payments sector, fintech companies have disrupted traditional payment methods by offering faster, cheaper, and more convenient payment solutions. One business model that has emerged in this sector is the mobile payment app. Mobile payment apps allow users to transfer funds, pay bills, and make purchases from their smartphones. These apps allow users to make payments quickly and easily, often using just their mobile device. Payment apps have disrupted the traditional payment industry, which has long been dominated by banks and credit card companies.  Payment apps are expected to continue to grow in popularity as more people move towards cashless transactions and digital payments.

To build a successful payment app, there are several key components that need to be considered. These include: 

User experience: The user experience is critical to the success of a payment app. Customers should be able to easily navigate the app, and complete transactions quickly and securely. The design and functionality of the app should be intuitive and user-friendly. 

Security: Security is also a key consideration when building a payment app. Customers need to feel confident that their personal and financial information is secure. This requires robust security measures, such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and fraud detection. 

Payment options: A payment app should offer a variety of payment options, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and mobile wallets. This allows customers to choose the payment method that best suits their needs. 

Integration with other services: To provide a seamless experience for customers, a payment app should integrate with other financial services, such as budgeting apps and investment platforms. This allows customers to access all of their financial information and services in one place. 

Building a successful payment app requires a focus on user experience, security, payment options, integration with other services, and loyalty programs. By prioritizing these components, fintech companies can create payment apps that meet the needs and expectations of today's consumers.

 Payment apps have disrupted the traditional payment industry, which has long been dominated by banks and credit card companies.

The payment app that is gaining more and more popularity in Europe is operating under the license of a Lithuanian bank ZEN. The main engine on which ZEN is based is BOS Core banking system.  ZEN is a mobile application that offers a seamless and secure way for users to manage their digital assets. The app allows users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies, as well as traditional currencies, all in one place. What sets ZEN apart is its user-friendly interface, fast and reliable execution of trades, and top-notch security features such as two-factor authentication and biometric login. With its global reach and innovative features, ZEN is poised to be a major player in the rapidly evolving world of digital finance.

Nr 2 - P2P lending platform

Another business model that has emerged in fintech is the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform. P2P lending allows borrowers to access loans directly from individual investors, bypassing traditional financial institutions. This model has disrupted the traditional lending industry, which has long been dominated by banks and other financial institutions. 

P2P lending platforms have gained traction over the last decade due to their ability to offer lower interest rates to borrowers and higher returns to investors than traditional banks. They achieve this by cutting out the middleman, i.e., banks, and connecting borrowers directly with investors. This results in lower operational costs and higher profits for investors, which in turn translates into lower interest rates for borrowers.

P2P lending allows borrowers to access loans directly from individual investors, bypassing traditional financial institutions. This model has disrupted the traditional lending industry, which has long been dominated by banks and other financial institutions.

Moreover, P2P lending platforms use technology to streamline the lending process, making it faster and more efficient. Borrowers can apply for loans online, and investors can browse through loan applications and choose which ones to invest in. This approach provides greater transparency and control to both parties, which is a significant advantage over traditional lending models. 

P2P lending platforms are not only disrupting the lending industry but are also attracting significant investments from venture capitalists and private equity firms. According to a report by PwC, the P2P lending market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 28.5% between 2020 and 2027, reaching a market size of $1,291.2 billion by 2027.

The popularity of these platforms can be attributed to several factors, including: 

Lower interest rates - P2P lending platforms offer borrowers lower interest rates compared to traditional banks, making loans more affordable and accessible. 

Faster loan approvals - P2P lending platforms use technology to streamline the loan application process, providing faster loan approvals and disbursements. 

Diversified loan portfolios - P2P lending platforms offer investors a range of investment opportunities, allowing them to diversify their portfolios and reduce their overall risk. 

High returns on investment - P2P lending platforms offer investors higher returns on their investments compared to traditional investment options like savings accounts or bonds. 

Transparency - P2P lending platforms provide greater transparency to both borrowers and investors, with easy-to-use online platforms and detailed loan and investment information. 

One of the best known P2P platform is, founded in 2010 in the UK, Funding Circle. Funding Circle is one of the largest P2P lending platforms in the world, with over £11 billion in loans facilitated. The platform's popularity is due to its easy-to-use online application process, fast loan approvals, and competitive interest rates. 

Despite the significant growth potential of P2P lending platforms, they also face challenges. One of the most significant challenges is managing credit risk. P2P lending platforms have to ensure that borrowers are creditworthy and can repay the loans. To manage this risk, P2P lending platforms use various credit assessment tools, including credit scores and other data analytics. 

Another challenge for P2P lending platforms is regulatory compliance. As P2P lending platforms are relatively new, regulators are still developing the regulatory framework to govern them. This has resulted in a lack of clarity in some areas, which can make it challenging for P2P lending platforms to operate in a compliant manner.

Nr 3 - Digital banking 

One of the most significant areas where fintech has been applied is in banking. Traditional banking has been challenged by fintech companies that offer innovative and customer-centric solutions. One example of such a business model is the digital-only bank.  With the development of technology, consumers now expect seamless and convenient banking experiences that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time. Digital banks, also known as neobanks, are financial institutions that operate entirely online, without any physical branches. They offer a range of banking services, such as checking and savings accounts, loans, and credit cards, all accessible through their mobile apps or websites.
Digital banks also tend to have lower overhead costs than traditional banks, which can translate into lower fees and more competitive interest rates for customers. Users usually choose such banks because of a few reasons: 

Convenience - Digital banks offer 24/7 access to banking services, making it easy for customers to manage their finances on-the-go. 

Lower fees - Digital banks often have lower overhead costs than traditional banks, allowing them to offer lower fees and more competitive interest rates. 

User-friendly interfaces - Digital banks typically offer sleek and user-friendly mobile apps, making it easy for customers to navigate their banking services. 

Personalization - Digital banks use data analytics to offer personalized banking services and recommendations to customers, allowing them to better manage their finances. 

P2P lending allows borrowers to access loans directly from individual investors, bypassing traditional financial institutions. This model has disrupted the traditional lending industry, which has long been dominated by banks and other financial institutions.
 

 If you want to seriously think about setting up a digital bank, consider in particular: 

User experience: The user experience is critical to the success of a digital bank. Customers should be able to easily navigate the bank's website and mobile app, and find the information they need quickly and easily. The design and functionality of the digital platform should be intuitive and user-friendly. 

Security: Security is also a key consideration when building a digital bank. Customers need to feel confident that their personal and financial information is secure. This requires robust security measures, such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and fraud detection. 

Customer support: Despite the convenience of digital banking, customers still need to be able to get help when they have questions or issues. A digital bank should have a customer support team that is easily accessible through multiple channels, such as phone, email, and chat. 

Integration with other services: To provide a seamless experience for customers, a digital bank should integrate with other financial services, such as payment platforms and investment apps. This allows customers to access all of their financial information and services in one place. 

Innovative features: Finally, a digital bank should offer innovative features that set it apart from traditional banks. This could include features such as real-time alerts, personalized financial advice, and gamification elements to encourage customers to save money.

One example of such a digital bank is based on the core banking system BOS - D360 bank. D360 is a new digital bank that has been approved by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and has become the third digital bank in Saudi Arabia to be licensed. The bank is being built by Derayah Financial Company, a leader in digital retail investments in Saudi Arabia. The main investor in D360 is the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund known for its spectacular investments made in partnership with Softbank, such as in the shares of Uber.

Nr 4 UBI 

In the insurance sector, fintech companies have introduced innovative solutions to simplify the insurance process and offer personalized policies to customers. One example of such a business model is the usage-based insurance (UBI) model. The usage-based insurance (UBI) model is a type of auto insurance that allows policyholders to pay premiums based on their driving behavior. With the rise of telematics technology and IoT devices, UBI has become an increasingly popular business model for fintech companies looking to disrupt the traditional auto insurance industry.

And why is this model so popular among users in the market? there are at least a few reasons 

Personalization - UBI allows insurance providers to offer personalized insurance rates based on a customer's driving habits, which can lead to lower premiums for safe drivers. 

Cost savings - By offering lower rates to safe drivers, UBI can help customers save money on their auto insurance premiums. 

Improved safety - UBI can incentivize safe driving practices and encourage drivers to be more aware of their driving behavior, ultimately leading to fewer accidents and safer roads. 

Transparency - UBI provides customers with detailed information about their driving behavior, allowing them to better understand their risk level and make informed decisions about their insurance coverage. 

To build a successful UBI business, there are several key components that need to be considered. These include: 

Telematics technology: UBI relies on telematics technology to collect data on driver behavior. Telematics devices can be installed in vehicles to track factors such as speed, acceleration, braking, and distance traveled. Alternatively, data can be collected through mobile apps or connected car services. 

Data analytics: UBI companies use data analytics to gain insights into driver behavior and risk profiles. This data can be used to personalize insurance policies, set premiums, and incentivize safe driving. 

Personalization: UBI policies are tailored to each individual policyholder based on their driving behavior. This can lead to lower premiums for safe drivers and higher premiums for high-risk drivers. 

Customer engagement: UBI companies need to engage with customers to promote safe driving behavior and incentivize policyholder retention. This can be done through gamification, rewards programs, and personalized coaching. 

Regulatory compliance: UBI companies need to comply with regulatory requirements and industry standards. This includes obtaining appropriate licenses and registrations, and ensuring that customer data is protected and secure. 

The UBI model offers a promising business model for fintech companies looking to enter the auto insurance industry. By leveraging telematics technology, data analytics, personalization, customer engagement, and regulatory compliance, UBI companies can create innovative new products and services that disrupt the traditional auto insurance industry and provide greater value to customers. 

Fintech has disrupted various sectors by introducing innovative business models that offer more personalized and customer-centric solutions. Digital-only banks, P2P lending platforms, mobile payment apps, and UBI models are just a few examples of the many business models that have emerged within fintech. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more disruptive business models emerge in the future.
 

by BOS Communications

Breaking free from Cloud Lock-In: The Benefits of Cloud-Agnostic Core Banking Systems

The banking industry has evolved significantly in recent years, with the introduction of cloud-based systems enabling banks to improve their services, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. In this article, we will explore the characteristics of cloud-agnosticism, which is a key feature of BOS core banking system.

Cloud-agnosticism - what does it mean?
Many of the cloud-native or cloud-ready solutions are fully linked to the particular cloud technology suite. It brings a lot of advantages in a solution implementation, its installation and maintenance but in other hand such approach limit potential use of the solution to the chosen cloud and their tools. A cloud-agnostic system is a type of system that is designed to work on any (or almost any) cloud platform. In other words, it is a system that can run on multiple cloud platforms without requiring any crucial modifications to the system and the tools required for its installation, operation and monitoring. This contrasts with non-cloud-agnostic systems, which are designed and implemented to run on a specific cloud platform.

BOS equals flexibility

One of the main advantages of a cloud-agnostic system's nature is flexibility. This flexibility allows for greater resilience and avoids vendor lock-in. Users can easily switch between cloud platforms if they find a better fit for their business needs, without migrating their entire system. This can save time and resources and allow for greater agility in responding to business and technological requirements. It also allows financial institutions to integrate new technologies and services into their existing systems quickly, without requiring significant changes to their infrastructure or architecture.

Cloud-agnostic systems are also cost-effective compared to non-cloud-agnostic systems since they eliminate the need for banks to maintain their own infrastructure and hardware or paid public cloud tools. This results in significant cost savings for institutions, which they can pass on to their customers in the form of lower fees and better rates.

Users can easily switch between cloud platforms if they find a better fit for their business needs, without migrating their entire system.

Security matters

Cloud-agnostic systems can improve security for financial institutions, as they can choose the cloud platform that provides the best security features. This can help institutions protect their customers' data and prevent security breaches.

Cloud-agnostic systems can increase innovation for banks, as they can take advantage of the latest cloud technologies and features. This can help financial institutions stay ahead of the competition and provide better services to their customers.

Comparison of cloud- agnostic and non-cloud agnostic core systems

Comparison	Cloud Agnostic System	Non-Cloud Agnostic System
Definition	A system that is designed to run on any cloud platform or infrastructure without being tied to any specific cloud provider.	A system that is designed to run on a specific cloud platform or infrastructure, making it difficult to switch to another platform.
Flexibility	Highly flexible and adaptable, allowing the system to run on any cloud infrastructure, including public, private, or hybrid clouds.	Less flexible as it is designed to run on a specific cloud platform or infrastructure.
Vendor Lock-in	No vendor lock-in as it is designed to be platform-agnostic and can be easily migrated to another cloud platform or infrastructure.	High risk of vendor lock-in as the system is designed to run on a specific cloud platform or infrastructure, making it difficult to switch to another platform.
Cost-Effectiveness	More cost-effective as the system can be easily implemented or migrated to a cloud platform or infrastructure that offers the best pricing and performance.	Less cost-effective as the system is tied to a specific cloud platform or infrastructure, limiting the options for pricing and performance optimization.
Scalability	Highly scalable as it can be easily scaled up or down depending on the changing business needs and workload demands.	Limited scalability as it is tied to a specific cloud platform or infrastructure, making it difficult to scale up or down to meet changing business needs and workload demands.
Resilience	Highly resilient as it can be easily replicated across multiple cloud platforms or infrastructures, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery.	Less resilient as it is tied to a specific cloud platform or infrastructure, increasing the risk of service disruption and downtime in case of a cloud outage or disaster.
Maintenance	The ability to choose tools supporting the operation of cloud systems that allow for their optimal use in the organization of financial institutions or the capabilities of the provider of technical operations services	Limited to the possibilities offered by native solutions of a specific cloud

Cloud-agnostic banking systems provide several advantages over non-cloud-agnostic systems, including increased flexibility and scalability, reduced costs, improved security, and unlimited innovation.
BOS is a perfect example of a cloud-agnostic banking system that provides these advantages, making it an attractive option for banks looking to improve their digital capabilities. As technology continues to evolve, it is likely that more banks will move towards cloud-agnostic systems in order to stay competitive in the market.

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If you want to transform your business idea into a financial masterpiece and need help in implementing a core system for your activity, contact us.

by BOS Communications

Event-Driven Core Banking: a deep look into BOS architecture

This is the first article from the "BOS Inside" series in which we will introduce you to our system from the perspective of its architecture, functionality and main technological advantages.

Core banking systems are the backbone of financial institutions that enable them to manage their day-to-day operations efficiently. The system provides functionality that ranges from opening and managing accounts to processing payments, managing deposits, creating loan accounts and calculating interest rates. In recent years, the financial industry has seen a shift towards event-driven architectures that allow for better scalability, flexibility, and faster time-to-market. One example of a core banking system that utilizes event-driven architecture is the BOS system provided by INCAT.

What is event-driven architecture?

Event-driven architecture is a communication model where the system reacts to an event rather than relying on traditional request-response interactions. Events can be anything from a user interaction to changes in the state of the system or external data source. By using an event-driven architecture, core banking systems can respond to these events in real-time, improving system performance, reducing latency, and increasing scalability.
The event-driven model allows for a loosely coupled and highly decoupled system that can adapt to changes in demand without significant modifications to the core system.

The main components of the event-driven architecture of the BOS system are:

 Event Orchestrator - a component that allows for the implementation of event distribution processes along with the definition of dependencies between generated events.

 Event Bus – a set of queues based on Kafka technologies, allowing for asynchronous exchange of messages.

 Event Buffer – a component built into business microservices that ensures the transactionality of message exchange and allows you to manage the business processing of events in the business microservice.

How BOS Uses Event-Driven Architecture?

BOS' event-driven nature allows for seamless integration with other systems and provides high flexibility and scalability. The system's communication model follows a publish-subscribe pattern, where events are published by producers and subscribed to by consumers. The publish-subscribe model allows for efficient and scalable communication between the system's components.

The BOS system has a robust event processing engine that can handle a high volume of events in real-time. The system's event processing engine uses an internal event bus that allows for the easy management and routing of events. The event bus allows the system to route events to the appropriate component and ensures that the events are processed in a timely manner. The event processing engine also allows for the filtering, transformation, and aggregation of events, providing a high degree of flexibility.

The system's event-driven approach allows for easy integration with third-party systems. The event-driven model enables easy data exchange and sharing between the system and other systems, providing a high degree of interoperability. In addition, the system's APIs also support easy integration with other solutions.

Where does BOS utilize event-driven architecture?

BOS rely on the event-driven architecture in various key areas, including:

Account Management: to manage the opening and closing of accounts, updating account balances, and managing account status changes.

Transaction Management: to manage transactions, including the initiation, processing, and settlement of transactions.

Customer Management: to manage customer-related activities, including customer onboarding, account access management, and customer data updates.

Benefits of BOS’ event-driven architecture

One of the key advantages of BOS’ event-driven architecture is its ability to handle complex and dynamic data flows. In a traditional architecture, data flow is managed through a central controller, which can quickly become a bottleneck as data volumes increase. With an event-driven architecture, data flow is managed through a distributed network of modules, which can handle data volumes more efficiently and scale dynamically as the system grows.

Another feature of BOS’ even driven nature is its ability to enable real-time data processing and analysis. With traditional architectures, data processing is often batch-based, which means that data is processed in batches at predetermined intervals. This approach can lead to delays in data processing and analysis, which can impact the overall efficiency of the system. With the event-driven architecture, data processing is performed in real-time, enabling financial organizations to make the right decisions based on up-to-date information.

In addition to its advanced architecture, the BOS Core Banking System also offers a comprehensive set of features and modules. This approach enables banks to build a system that is tailored to their business requirements, which can help them to operate more efficiently and effectively.

In conclusion, the adoption of event-driven architecture in core banking systems is a significant development in the banking industry. With its advanced architecture and modular design, the BOS core banking system is well positioned to help banks and fintechs in the digital age.

by BOS Communications