Thursday, 17 January 2013

No Going Back on Cheque Truncation...


Following efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to revamp the payment system, Proactive Technologies Limited and Sybrin Systems Limited have announced a partnership to deploy Sybrin automated cheque truncation solution as well as other cost-saving, efficiency-enhancing solutions to Nigerian banks.

The Chief Executive Officer, Proactive Technologies, Mr. Roland Obe, said at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday that the two firms were at different levels of discussion ranging from negotiation to implementation with several financial institutions to deliver world-class imaging and truncation solutions.

He listed First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Skye Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and a few others as leading the quest for true decentralised truncation.

Obe said, “While several companies claim to have expertise in the imaging and truncation technology areas, only very few stand out in Africa and beyond. The strongest of such companies in Africa is Sybrin, which has been in the business for over 21 years, innovating and virtually taking over truncation technology in Africa.”

The Sales Manager, Sybrin Systems, Mr. Daniel

Parreira, stated that Sybrin had established itself over the past 20 years as a leading software technology company in the provision of automated cheque truncation and other payment solutions amongst Africa’s leading banks, clearing houses and corporations.

He said, “Some of Sybrin’s key clients are Barclays (Pan-Africa), Bankserv (South African Clearing House), the Electronic Cheque Clearing House in Malawi, the Zambia Electronic Clearing House, the Kenya Bankers Association ACH, as well as many other leading financial institutions across Africa.

“Our solutions include automated front-office image-based voucher processing (cheque truncation), imaging and workflow, mobile banking, document management and statement solutions.”

The apex bank in August 2007 inaugurated the Payments System Vision 2020 aimed at restoring the payment system.

The process commenced with the unveiling of the PSV 2020 strategy document, which benchmarks the Nigerian payments system against global best practice.

A core aspect of the initiatives, apart from e-banking, which include Automated Teller Machines, Point of

Sale and other cash-less initiatives, is a significant reduction in the clearing periods for cheques by the banks to T+1.

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