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IBM supports Finanz Informatik in its strategic initiatives with AI, automation, and hybrid cloud technology
BÖBLINGEN, Germany, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Finanz Informatik (FI) – the central IT service provider and digitalization partner of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe – and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have extended their successful collaboration with the signing of a new contract.
Finanz Informatik is a central IT service provider for more than 340 savings banks and other network partners, providing efficient, secure, and regulatory-compliant solutions, which are supplied through FI's own data centers. To further improve the already strong position of its banking customers in the digital world, Finanz Informatik relies on the latest IBM technologies for the continued modernization of its software and hardware infrastructure. With the latest generation of computer systems, FI is expanding its capabilities to leverage the advantages and the full potential of cloud computing, automation, and AI for its data center operations, while ensuring platform independence.
The new contract with IBM enables further capacity growth for the next few years and will strengthen cyber resilience in compliance with the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The contract includes the use of state-of-the-art IBM mainframe, Power, and storage systems as well as modern system software components with AI support from the watsonx product portfolio. This allows cloud-enabled applications to be automatically distributed and managed across various computer systems running in the company's own data center.
The aim is to support Finanz Informatik initiatives and projects that provide Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe with a host of strategic advantages:
- Accelerated digital transformation: By building on technologies such as the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform as a consistent hybrid cloud foundation and IBM AIOps solutions, Finanz Informatik will continue to modernize its core IT systems and applications, enabling more efficient operations and improve service delivery across the network of companies.
- Improved cyber resilience: With proven IBM solutions, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe can benefit from robust backup and recovery capabilities that help protect critical financial data. This makes Finanz Informatik a pioneer in the use of such innovative and resilient solutions in Europe.
- Innovation powered by AI: By making the most of IBM's AI offerings based on the watsonx portfolio, Finanz Informatik will deliver privacy-focused AI solutions for Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe that enable real-time insights, automation, and security services.
- Sustainability and future-proofing: The agreement underscores the commitment to sustainability and helps ensure that the IT infrastructure continues to evolve in an environmentally friendly way with the energy-efficient IBM mainframe and high-end Power servers of the latest and upcoming technology generations.
"Our contract with IBM is another important building block on our way to inspiring our customers with innovative solutions. Together, we will use the agreed contract components and new technologies to drive forward the digital transformation in the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe while at the same time securing growing capacity requirements in the future. Signing the contract with IBM provides us with long-term planning security and economic advantages in challenging times," emphasizes Martin Waldmann, Executive Director for Human Resources, Finance, Internal Services and Risk Management at Finanz Informatik.
"By signing the agreement, we are continuing a long-standing and successful cooperation. Our customers benefit from the continuous development of our IT platform, enabling us to guarantee a high level of security, availability, and cost-effectiveness. We preserve what makes us strong. On top of that and together with IBM, we're introducing new, innovative products for our OSPlus financial platform. Both companies – IBM and FI – will contribute their specific expertise and benefit from the intensive long-term cooperation. With this collaboration, we can deliver a good combination of proven systems and new technologies, strengthening the foundation of our platform independence, platform openness, and the sovereign operation of our applications," adds Detlev Klage, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Finanz Informatik.
"Across the global financial services industry, we're seeing banks and other financial institutions increasingly embrace exponential technologies, including generative AI, to improve customer experience, increase operational efficiency, and mitigate risk to stay competitive," said Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President of Software and Chief Commercial Officer at IBM. "Access to a robust ecosystem of technology partners is critical as financial institutions look to boost productivity and increase value for their customers. With this new agreement, Finanz Informatik is creating a solid foundation for the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe to continue to offer its stakeholders exceptional added value and innovation."
About Finanz Informatik
Finanz Informatik, based in Frankfurt am Main, is the digitalization partner of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. The customers of the central IT service provider include 348 savings banks, six state banks, DekaBank, five state building societies, public insurers and other companies in the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe and the wider financial sector. Its core banking solution OSPlus is the central digital platform of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe which is being continuously expanded. The saving banks and large parts of the network operate their sales and service channels through this digital platform to support around 50 million customers.
Finanz Informatik offers a complete IT service – from application development to infrastructure and data center operations to consulting, training, and support. Subsidiaries and shareholdings such as Finanz Informatik Solutions Plus, Finanz Informatik Technologie Service, inasys, Star Finanz, Web Computing, and FINMAS complement the IT portfolio of Finanz Informatik with their wide range of services.
Finanz Informatik provides services for around 114 million bank accounts; more than 205 billion technical transactions are being processed on computers and systems every year. The company employed around 4,650 people at the end of 2023. Together with its subsidiaries, FI generated sales of 2.44 billion euros in 2023.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions, and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit ibm.com for more information.
Media Contact:
IBM
Marie-Ann Maushart
maushart@de.ibm.com
IBM supports Finanz Informatik in its strategic initiatives with AI, automation, and hybrid cloud technology
BÖBLINGEN, Germany, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Finanz Informatik (FI) – the central IT service provider and digitalization partner of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe – and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have extended their successful collaboration with the signing of a new contract.
Finanz Informatik is a central IT service provider for more than 340 savings banks and other network partners, providing efficient, secure, and regulatory-compliant solutions, which are supplied through FI's own data centers. To further improve the already strong position of its banking customers in the digital world, Finanz Informatik relies on the latest IBM technologies for the continued modernization of its software and hardware infrastructure. With the latest generation of computer systems, FI is expanding its capabilities to leverage the advantages and the full potential of cloud computing, automation, and AI for its data center operations, while ensuring platform independence.
The new contract with IBM enables further capacity growth for the next few years and will strengthen cyber resilience in compliance with the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The contract includes the use of state-of-the-art IBM mainframe, Power, and storage systems as well as modern system software components with AI support from the watsonx product portfolio. This allows cloud-enabled applications to be automatically distributed and managed across various computer systems running in the company's own data center.
The aim is to support Finanz Informatik initiatives and projects that provide Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe with a host of strategic advantages:
- Accelerated digital transformation: By building on technologies such as the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform as a consistent hybrid cloud foundation and IBM AIOps solutions, Finanz Informatik will continue to modernize its core IT systems and applications, enabling more efficient operations and improve service delivery across the network of companies.
- Improved cyber resilience: With proven IBM solutions, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe can benefit from robust backup and recovery capabilities that help protect critical financial data. This makes Finanz Informatik a pioneer in the use of such innovative and resilient solutions in Europe.
- Innovation powered by AI: By making the most of IBM's AI offerings based on the watsonx portfolio, Finanz Informatik will deliver privacy-focused AI solutions for Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe that enable real-time insights, automation, and security services.
- Sustainability and future-proofing: The agreement underscores the commitment to sustainability and helps ensure that the IT infrastructure continues to evolve in an environmentally friendly way with the energy-efficient IBM mainframe and high-end Power servers of the latest and upcoming technology generations.
"Our contract with IBM is another important building block on our way to inspiring our customers with innovative solutions. Together, we will use the agreed contract components and new technologies to drive forward the digital transformation in the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe while at the same time securing growing capacity requirements in the future. Signing the contract with IBM provides us with long-term planning security and economic advantages in challenging times," emphasizes Martin Waldmann, Executive Director for Human Resources, Finance, Internal Services and Risk Management at Finanz Informatik.
"By signing the agreement, we are continuing a long-standing and successful cooperation. Our customers benefit from the continuous development of our IT platform, enabling us to guarantee a high level of security, availability, and cost-effectiveness. We preserve what makes us strong. On top of that and together with IBM, we're introducing new, innovative products for our OSPlus financial platform. Both companies – IBM and FI – will contribute their specific expertise and benefit from the intensive long-term cooperation. With this collaboration, we can deliver a good combination of proven systems and new technologies, strengthening the foundation of our platform independence, platform openness, and the sovereign operation of our applications," adds Detlev Klage, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Finanz Informatik.
"Across the global financial services industry, we're seeing banks and other financial institutions increasingly embrace exponential technologies, including generative AI, to improve customer experience, increase operational efficiency, and mitigate risk to stay competitive," said Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President of Software and Chief Commercial Officer at IBM. "Access to a robust ecosystem of technology partners is critical as financial institutions look to boost productivity and increase value for their customers. With this new agreement, Finanz Informatik is creating a solid foundation for the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe to continue to offer its stakeholders exceptional added value and innovation."
About Finanz Informatik
Finanz Informatik, based in Frankfurt am Main, is the digitalization partner of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. The customers of the central IT service provider include 348 savings banks, six state banks, DekaBank, five state building societies, public insurers and other companies in the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe and the wider financial sector. Its core banking solution OSPlus is the central digital platform of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe which is being continuously expanded. The saving banks and large parts of the network operate their sales and service channels through this digital platform to support around 50 million customers.
Finanz Informatik offers a complete IT service – from application development to infrastructure and data center operations to consulting, training, and support. Subsidiaries and shareholdings such as Finanz Informatik Solutions Plus, Finanz Informatik Technologie Service, inasys, Star Finanz, Web Computing, and FINMAS complement the IT portfolio of Finanz Informatik with their wide range of services.
Finanz Informatik provides services for around 114 million bank accounts; more than 205 billion technical transactions are being processed on computers and systems every year. The company employed around 4,650 people at the end of 2023. Together with its subsidiaries, FI generated sales of 2.44 billion euros in 2023.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions, and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit ibm.com for more information.
Media Contact:
IBM
Marie-Ann Maushart
maushart@de.ibm.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Finanz Informatik and IBM extend and expand collaboration
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DAVOS, Switzerland, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippines Social Security System (SSS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore-based fintech firm Surfin Meta Digital Technology (Surfin) outlining areas of collaboration to modernize and digitally enable selected SSS financial service programs. The MOU serves as a framework for cooperation, with both parties identifying opportunities to improve service delivery for members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries, while supporting financial inclusion and operational efficiency across the national pension and social insurance system.
The MOU was signed at the first ever InvestPhilippines Business Pavilion, following a panel session on the potential of AI to strengthen public-sector and pension-fund service delivery. This was held during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, 2026.
Under the MOU, SSS and Surfin will explore the potential integration of AI credit scoring, big data modelling, and chatbot technology into its existing platforms, including loan administration, member servicing, and back‑end risk management processes. Focus areas may also include digital enhancements to loan administration, workflow automation to improve operational efficiency, and explainable, auditable analytics to support oversight and compliance.
As part of the exploratory collaboration, Surfin will make its proprietary risk management engines and analytics platforms available for assessment, while both parties co-develop pilot programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives within the local financial ecosystem. The engagement reflects Surfin's growing presence in the Philippines and its experience in designing digital financial applications for large institutions.
SSS is exploring digital upgrades to selected financial service programs through artificial intelligence and data-driven tools as part of a broader push to modernize its services.
Quote from Surfin
"The Philippines remains a strategically important market for Surfin, and the signing of this MOU is an important step toward advancing digital financial solutions for underserved communities in the country, including the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) community," said Dr. Yanan Wu, Founder and CEO of Surfin.
"As a global fintech company committed to transparent and accessible digital financial services, this collaboration reflects our continued efforts to leverage artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies to support individuals and small businesses that face challenges within traditional financial infrastructure. This collaboration will allow us to explore how AI-enabled financial technologies can support broader financial inclusion initiatives. We look forward to contributing insights and technical expertise as SSS explores the development of its digital financial tools."
Quote from SSS
"The MOU marks an initial step towards assessing how AI, advanced data analytics, and conversational AI tools could support SSS' financial services, in line with the Philippines' broader digital transformation agenda, following the directive of Department of Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission Chairman Frederick D. Go to maximize the use of technology in delivering efficient and accessible services to SSS members." said Robert Joseph M. de Claro, President and Chief Executive Officer of SSS.
De Claro notes that artificial intelligence presents opportunities for pension funds to manage large volumes of member and financial data more efficiently, support informed long-term decision-making, and automate routine processes. "AI can help strengthen governance and enable personalised member services, from retirement-planning tools to interactive digital assistants. We look forward to exploring Surfin's risk management tools and pilot initiatives in support of the Philippines' digital agenda, with the goal of delivering faster and more inclusive services to Filipino workers."
About Surfin Meta Digital Technology
Surfin is a global fintech platform providing digital financial services for the unbanked and underbanked across emerging markets, including consumer lending, credit cards, payments and remittances, wealth management, and Fintech-as-a-service.
Leveraging AI, big data analytics, and proprietary risk management technologies, Surfin has developed a scalable cross-border platform designed to deliver transparent and inclusive financial solutions.
For more information, please visit www.surfinglobal.com.
About SSS
The SSS is a state-run social insurance program providing retirement, disability, maternity, sickness and other benefits to millions of Filipino workers and their families. SSS continues to pursue digital modernisation initiatives to improve service delivery and accessibility for members and beneficiaries across the Philippines and overseas.
Media Contact:
media@surfinglobal.com
DAVOS, Switzerland, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippines Social Security System (SSS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore-based fintech firm Surfin Meta Digital Technology (Surfin) outlining areas of collaboration to modernize and digitally enable selected SSS financial service programs. The MOU serves as a framework for cooperation, with both parties identifying opportunities to improve service delivery for members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries, while supporting financial inclusion and operational efficiency across the national pension and social insurance system.
The MOU was signed at the first ever InvestPhilippines Business Pavilion, following a panel session on the potential of AI to strengthen public-sector and pension-fund service delivery. This was held during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, 2026.
Under the MOU, SSS and Surfin will explore the potential integration of AI credit scoring, big data modelling, and chatbot technology into its existing platforms, including loan administration, member servicing, and back‑end risk management processes. Focus areas may also include digital enhancements to loan administration, workflow automation to improve operational efficiency, and explainable, auditable analytics to support oversight and compliance.
As part of the exploratory collaboration, Surfin will make its proprietary risk management engines and analytics platforms available for assessment, while both parties co-develop pilot programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives within the local financial ecosystem. The engagement reflects Surfin's growing presence in the Philippines and its experience in designing digital financial applications for large institutions.
SSS is exploring digital upgrades to selected financial service programs through artificial intelligence and data-driven tools as part of a broader push to modernize its services.
Quote from Surfin
"The Philippines remains a strategically important market for Surfin, and the signing of this MOU is an important step toward advancing digital financial solutions for underserved communities in the country, including the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) community," said Dr. Yanan Wu, Founder and CEO of Surfin.
"As a global fintech company committed to transparent and accessible digital financial services, this collaboration reflects our continued efforts to leverage artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies to support individuals and small businesses that face challenges within traditional financial infrastructure. This collaboration will allow us to explore how AI-enabled financial technologies can support broader financial inclusion initiatives. We look forward to contributing insights and technical expertise as SSS explores the development of its digital financial tools."
Quote from SSS
"The MOU marks an initial step towards assessing how AI, advanced data analytics, and conversational AI tools could support SSS' financial services, in line with the Philippines' broader digital transformation agenda, following the directive of Department of Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission Chairman Frederick D. Go to maximize the use of technology in delivering efficient and accessible services to SSS members." said Robert Joseph M. de Claro, President and Chief Executive Officer of SSS.
De Claro notes that artificial intelligence presents opportunities for pension funds to manage large volumes of member and financial data more efficiently, support informed long-term decision-making, and automate routine processes. "AI can help strengthen governance and enable personalised member services, from retirement-planning tools to interactive digital assistants. We look forward to exploring Surfin's risk management tools and pilot initiatives in support of the Philippines' digital agenda, with the goal of delivering faster and more inclusive services to Filipino workers."
About Surfin Meta Digital Technology
Surfin is a global fintech platform providing digital financial services for the unbanked and underbanked across emerging markets, including consumer lending, credit cards, payments and remittances, wealth management, and Fintech-as-a-service.
Leveraging AI, big data analytics, and proprietary risk management technologies, Surfin has developed a scalable cross-border platform designed to deliver transparent and inclusive financial solutions.
For more information, please visit www.surfinglobal.com.
About SSS
The SSS is a state-run social insurance program providing retirement, disability, maternity, sickness and other benefits to millions of Filipino workers and their families. SSS continues to pursue digital modernisation initiatives to improve service delivery and accessibility for members and beneficiaries across the Philippines and overseas.
Media Contact:
media@surfinglobal.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Surfin Meta Digital Technology signs MOU with the Philippine Social Security System to explore digital financial service enhancements
