IBM and Sanchez Form Global Strategic Alliance for Financial Services Industry; New Agreement Provides Global Distribution of Joint Solutions Through IBM Worldwide Sales and Services

Business Wire, Dec 7, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. & MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2000

IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Sanchez Computer Associates Inc. (Nasdaq:SCAI) today announced a strategic alliance to provide a retail online banking and legacy replacement solution that helps large and mid-size banks worldwide to rapidly offer new products over new delivery channels, including the Internet.

The agreement builds on the strong relationship between Sanchez and IBM and positions Sanchez as one of 40 strategic alliance partners in IBM's PartnerWorld for Developers Program worldwide.

Under terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly market and sell banking and financial services solutions on a worldwide basis. Specifically, Sanchez will lead with the IBM pSeries(1) eServer(1) and IBM middleware products by integrating the PROFILE(R) suite of applications with IBM Application Framework for e-business technologies, including: DB2(1)Universal Database, WebSphere(1) application server, MQSeries(1) messaging software and Tivoli(1) systems management software.

Financial institutions will benefit from IBM and Sanchez solutions that offer integrated core banking products through an open and scaleable architecture -- enabling improved time to market, real-time transaction processing and enhanced delivery of products and service over multiple delivery channels including branches, ATMs, Internet, and wireless application protocols (WAP).

Initially, IBM will promote the core banking components of Sanchez' leading PROFILE suite of enterprise banking and financial services software -- installed in many of the world's largest banks -- as part of IBM's leading e-business solutions on the IBM pSeries eServer. Additionally, IBM will provide consulting, customization and integration services for joint IBM and Sanchez solutions.

Sanchez' PROFILE suite of software products is an open-ended suite of banking applications, which address the operational requirements of retail, commercial, direct, international and wholesale institutions and credit unions. All PROFILE products are real-time software applications built upon a scalable design that works across multiple currencies and multiple languages to support enterprise banking and financial services transactions.

The PROFILE products included in the agreement are PROFILE/Anyware, the enterprise banking application and transaction processor for deposit and loan processing; PROFILE for Windows; PROFILE/Application Tools and PROFILE/FMS (Financial Management System). The entire suite of PROFILE products includes PROFILE/Xpress, the transactional customer management system and financial product distribution application that provides real time integration connecting all of an institution's delivery channels to its internal and external product processing factories, and PROFILE/WebConsumer, a Web-based, Internet front-end processor for retail and commercial banking applications.

Sanchez and IBM recently benchmarked PROFILE/Anyware on IBM's new copper-based pSeries eServer and recorded a breakthrough 1,200 transactions per second in an on-line, real-time environment.

"This expanded agreement allows Sanchez to fully leverage the global depth of IBM's resources, including its sales and technical expertise in the banking and financial services industry," said Frank R. Sanchez, CEO of Sanchez. "Both companies have expanded their commitment to promote each other's products and services on a worldwide basis. This new agreement allows IBM and Sanchez to provide a total solution for financial institutions with the next-generation systems infrastructure."

"Today's financial institutions are looking for operational efficiencies to reduce costs in the delivery of products through new and more profitable retail delivery channels," said Mary Maher, core banking executive, IBM Global Banking Industry. "The Sanchez PROFILE suite of products and the scalable and reliable technologies of IBM, combined with its e-business consulting and global services expertise, provides a comprehensive solution to financial institutions worldwide."

The Sanchez strategic alliance is another example of IBM's commitment to go-to-market with leading independent software vendors under the PartnerWorld for Developers program. Under this initiative, IBM has signed agreements with companies such as Siebel Systems and Vignette. These alliances target industries such as financial services, retail and manufacturing, and solution segments including enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, customer relationship management and business intelligence. The goal is to provide developers with access to new customers and revenue opportunities through IBM's marketing, sales, and solutions resources. In return, developers commit to lead with IBM's middleware, server platforms, and services.

PartnerWorld for Developers offers to business partners the IBM Application Framework for e-business -- a technology roadmap, based on industry standards, that helps developers integrate Internet technologies with traditional information technology. IBM pSeries servers, IBM zSeries enterprise servers, and MQSeries messaging middleware are among the strategic products within the IBM Application Framework for e-business, and Sanchez will continue to incorporate these into its product offering.