The implementation project was successfully completed in less than six months, within budget and deadlines.

"We really wanted to launch Evi within six months" says Paul Timmermans, member of the Management Committee at Van Lanschot and driving force behind Evi, "so our solution was simple: team up with market leaders that have a proven solution. That's why we chose Sopra Banking Software, who demonstrated that they could provide the adequate solution and a proven methodology, enabling a new bank launch within tight deadlines."

Indeed, Sopra Banking Software can count numerous direct banks in Belgium among its customers. Direct banks operate through the internet only, and are an attractive business model because of their low cost, simplicity and the higher rates they can offer to customers. Sopra Banking for Direct Banks is a comprehensive solution offer tailored to the needs of that specific banking segment, and offers straight-through processing operations as well as a set of other standardized functionalities.

Other partners on the project included IT hosting specialist Schuberg Philis and communication expert Boondoggle, companies Sopra Banking Software had already partnered with numerous times. "Deadlines were tight, and cost control was essential to the project," says Mr. Timmermans, "but Sopra Banking proved beyond doubt that it could achieve both. In six months' time, and before the deadline, it had Evi up and running." Evi launched on December 11, 2013, fully according to plan.

"We are pleased that we are able to offer the right solutions to support new bank launches, which includes advice and implementation, to enable our customers' success," says Jean-Paul Bourbon, CEO of Sopra Banking Software, "We were happy to meet Evi's expectations, once more reinforcing our key value of always putting customers at the core."