Commercial International Bank Builds Advanced Infrastructure

Global Finance, May 2005

Adopting state-of-the art technology to better serve customers

Ever since our establishment in 1975, Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt's largest and most profitable private bank, has continually worked to improve the service we offer our customers. We have achieved this over the years by investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure, systems, delivery channels and high-quality personnel.

In recent years one of the bank's main objectives has been to update and develop our information technology and communications infrastructure. New and improved systems were required to satisfy the requirements of our overall business strategy.

By utilizing and capitalizing on the available infrastructure, we have been able to install a reliable centralized core banking system to serve both corporate and retail customers. The systems are linked to the necessary modules to efficiently provide a high-quality service.

CIB 's systems are securely connected to the SWIFT global network in order to ensure fast and accurate processing. We have also introduced a new centralized system to manage loan arrangements with small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).This new system is fully integrated with the bank's core banking system and our trade finance and dealing networks.

CIB is also the first bank in Egypt to set up a Chip Personalization Centre for our own centralized card management and also to provide Chip Cards for a number of other banks and institutions.

Today CIB is able to offer a wide range of banking solutions and services for both corporate and retail customers using a variety of different delivery channels.

Our Internet banking service has proved popular with many of our corporate and retail customers and combines a number of unique features, including a user-friendly multilingual interface. Internet banking customers now have access to a range of new services including fund raising, automatic bill payment and automatic requests processing. We have also recently introduced new cash management and trade finance services for our corporate Internet banking customers.

CIB customers also have access to a network of 220 ATM machines, allowing them to perform a number of everyday banking transactions quickly and easily, including depositing cash or checks, paying utility bills, transferring funds or foreign exchange transactions. All our ATM machines use state-of-the-art monitoring and management systems to ensure reliable and efficient service.

All of the bank's systems use the latest security and cryptography technologies, including a variety of firewalls and PK Infrastructure technology, which supports digital signatures and other public key-enabled security services.

At CIB we never underestimate the importance of our human talent, and we have invested heavily in recruiting highly-trained, specialized IT staff to manage and develop our IT systems to ensure we continue to offer the best possible service to our customers.

Contact information:

Strategic Relations and Finance

Programs Group

Tel: (202) 570-2679

Fax:(202)571-2362

Email: maha.ragab@cibeg.com