The primary driver for the implementation is to ensure that NBD meets all of its EMV compliance obligations. S1 Postilion will replace NBD's existing system and enable the bank to take advantage of new revenue generating opportunities.

S1 Postilion, delivered in conjunction with STS, the specialist system integrator for the Middle East, fulfils all EMV compliance commitments and provides advanced services to NBD's network of 131 ATMs. S1 Postilion has the flexibility to support new and future functionality as and when required. NBD is very focused on providing customers with the highest quality of services. Rather than simply upgrading its existing system to become EMV compliant, NBD chose to invest in a leading-edge product that provides a platform from which new services and revenues are delivered.

With the number of ATMs in the Middle East growing at 10% per year, NBD requires a switch with the capability to support the advances in ATM technology and the bank's ambition to achieve automated banking. By implementing S1 Postilion, NBD is running a premier payment processing system that is simple to operate and manage. The product is also expected to deliver reduced cost of ownership over its current system in terms of the hardware platform, operating system and database management software. S1 Postilion centralises the management of all ATMs, simplifies interfaces to core banking systems and allows NBD to eliminate spurious systems.

Founded in 1963, the National Bank of Dubai is one of the UAE's oldest and most prominent banking institutions. Alongside branch banking, the ATM is NBD's most important customer interface and it is essential, therefore, that the new system has the capacity to effectively drive and maintain this key channel.

"Providing a first-class ATM channel has become an essential part of NBD's business strategy to provide enhanced customer services," comments Abdulfattah Sharaf, Head of Cards Business at National Bank of Dubai. "S1 Postilion delivers advanced ATM functionality in a cost effective manner. Along with standard ATM transactions, such as cash withdrawal and balance enquiry, we can now offer advanced transaction features like wire transfers, cheque cashing, money orders, mobile phone recharge, bill payment and eCommerce shopping, which will be delivered across a range of channels including ATMs, mobile phones or POS devices."

NBD has made a substantial investment in upgrading all its ATMs to Windows-based, state-of-the-art models that run on a TCP/IP network. This network is easy to support and manage through S1 Postilion and enables NBD to provide a very user-friendly ATM environment.

Implementation and support services are provided to NBD from an office established recently in Dubai in partnership with STS. The office also serves other S1 Postilion users in the region. According to STS's Chairman and President, Ramzi Zeine, "S1 Postilion has been developed as one of the finest EFT products available in the market today. This makes it a perfect fit with our vision to deliver full end-to-end payment services to our clients. The S1 Postilion implementation at NBD has exceeded the bank's expectations and illustrates the strength of offering we are able to provide."

"As one of the largest banks in the Middle East, the National Bank of Dubai's decision to implement S1 Postilion is a huge stamp of approval for us," says Jan Kruger, General Manager of Mosaic Software in Europe and the Middle East. "It helps confirm S1 Postilion as the number one product for this market, and we are sure that NBD will shortly be able to deliver greater levels of customer service at its ATMs."