With ATM Developer, National Bank of Kuwait can maximise the potential of the ATM by quickly introducing innovative ATM services to its customers. The bank also benefits from the automation of its testing procedures to ensure increased network uptime at the ATM, its most significant customer touch-point.

Prior to implementing Level Four's solution, the main challenge for National Bank of Kuwait in rolling out new services at the ATM was the need to test them using physical ATMs. This approach required considerable investment in ATM hardware as well as lengthy manual processes to ensure every combination of service provider and ATM software was tested. It was also critical for the bank to be able to perform rigorous testing during its forthcoming ATM switch upgrade from the Trans24 payment processing platform to Base24-eps, as well as continuous testing of its EMV standards for smart chip cards.

To overcome these challenges, National Bank of Kuwait required an automated testing and development application capable of streamlining the bank's process and reducing the time to market for new products. Following a rigorous selection process, the bank signed the contract with Level Four in May 2008 before going live with ATM Developer in July 2008. With ATM Developer, the bank has created a virtual ATM environment to eliminate the need for expensive ATM hardware for testing labs and introduce more thorough and accurate testing processes.

Level Four installed ATM Developer at the bank's IT centre in Kuwait City. The application includes a highly visual and intuitive user interface, making it easy for the bank's staff to use, positively impacting productivity levels.

Dr. Fadi Chehayeb, Chief Information Officer, National Bank of Kuwait, said: "We recognise the ATM as a crucial part of our customer service strategy. This means it is vital for us to have the right systems in place to guarantee maximum network uptime and also to allow us to continually innovate with the introduction of new products. Following a swift implementation, we have dramatically increased the overall efficiency of our testing procedures. The application can also accommodate our future plans to introduce a multi-vendor environment at the ATM, ensuring our ongoing plans are not compromised."

Issa Keshek, Regional Director Middle East/North Africa, Level Four, said: "This is a significant deal for us as it marks our first project in Kuwait and our continued expansion in the Middle East. The ATM remains the bank's single biggest customer touch-point. With ATM Developer, banks such as National Bank of Kuwait can maximise the potential of the channel, resulting in an enhanced and more positive brand perception."