The new platform will help the bank address Dodd-Frank's current stress testing requirements and provide a long-term framework to fulfill wider risk management and regulatory objectives, helping to turning the practice of compliance into a competitive advantage.

The fully integrated platform helps the bank generate a complete picture of the balance sheet to aid capital allocation. It also helps BancorpSouth effectively analyze the relationship between macroeconomic stresses and loan-level losses for a greater understanding of borrower-level and portfolio-level risk drivers. These capabilities help the bank run comprehensive scenario analysis more frequently and help inform bank strategy and decision making.

Recent research conducted by SunGard into risk management trends highlights how many banks continue to take a short term, reactive approach to addressing regulatory requirements like stress testing. 15% of US firms with <$10Bn in assets had no plans to develop a stress-testing process compared to all institutions with $10Bn-$50Bn in assets, which have either completed a stress test already or expect to develop one in the next 12 months. While this suggests that banks continue to take a tick box approach to regulation, BancorpSouth's decision to build stress testing into its long-term risk management strategy highlights its best practice approach to turn regulatory compliance into an opportunity to develop a competitive advantage.

"BancorpSouth strives to be a leading example of best practice in strategic risk management across the US banking industry and we aim to embed a proactive attitude to regulation into the culture and operations of our entire organization. Our risk management strategy and relationships are integral components of this. Having worked with SunGard for more than a decade, we have first-hand experience of the combined strength of its solutions and services capabilities. In building this new platform SunGard has not just been a solutions provider, but a strategic advisor in helping to ensure we built the correct framework specific to our business needs and goals." --Ty Lambert, first vice president, BancorpSouth

"Today's turbulent regulatory landscape continues to trigger knee jerk responses to compliance. The scope of new regulations is detracting focus from strategic initiatives that drive profitability. BancorpSouth is helping to lead the charge in taking a long term, strategic view of regulation. This was a rewarding project for SunGard to be part of as this new platform will help lay the foundations for the bank's future growth." -- Kaizad Cama, director, risk and performance, SunGard's capital markets business