Bank ABC migrates ila Bank to Temenos core on AWS cloud

Bank ABC has migrated its mobile-only digital ila Bank to Temenos Core Banking hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), marking the first phase of a wider core banking transformation programme.

The move covers ila Bank's retail account and lending operations and includes Temenos Payments and Temenos Data Hub. Systems Limited delivered the migration as a Temenos partner and will provide managed services for the platform.

ila Bank launched in 2019 as a mobile-only retail proposition backed by Bank ABC. It has built its brand around app-based onboarding and day-to-day digital services in Bahrain, with ambitions to expand across the region.

The cutover moves ila Bank's core banking and payments processing to Temenos software running on AWS. Bank ABC and its suppliers describe the setup as cloud-native and API-first-an approach widely used in modernisation projects to support integration with internal systems and third-party services.

Wider Programme

The ila Bank migration is part of a broader plan to consolidate multiple back-end systems across Bank ABC's footprint, covering operations in 15 countries. The consolidation aims to standardise core processing across business lines and geographies.

Core banking transformation has become a focal point for banks operating across markets and brands. Many still run separate platforms by country or business line, often because of legacy acquisitions and regulatory differences. Consolidation typically aims to reduce duplication, simplify change management, and improve data oversight.

Bank ABC expects the wider programme to deliver operational efficiency and a single customer view. A consolidated core can also reshape product development and release cycles, shortening configuration and testing timelines when multiple markets share a common base.

Cloud Hosting

AWS continues to attract regulated financial workloads in the Middle East, including customer-facing digital banks and banking-as-a-service providers. Adoption still varies by market due to data residency rules and supervisory expectations. Banks also weigh concentration risk and third-party oversight when moving critical systems to a small number of hyperscalers.

In this project, Temenos core banking and payments modules run on AWS, with Temenos Data Hub included in the deployment. Data hubs are typically used to standardise and distribute operational data for reporting and analytics across channels and systems.

Systems Limited will provide end-to-end managed services for the Temenos solution, taking responsibility for day-to-day operations, monitoring, and platform management under the bank's governance model.

Vendor Competition

Temenos competes in the core banking market with providers including Thought Machine, Mambu, Finastra, and Oracle. Established banks increasingly run multi-year programmes that combine core replacement, channel upgrades, and payments modernisation. Digital-only brands often act as early adopters, with broader group migrations following once operating patterns and controls are proven.

Bank ABC's approach follows that pattern, with ila Bank moving to the new core platform ahead of the wider group rollout. The bank describes this as the first phase of the transformation programme.

Ismail Mokhtar, Group Chief Operating Officer at Bank ABC, said the migration was part of a wider change agenda.

"The go-live of ila Bank on Temenos' Cloud-native core banking system marks a significant milestone in our strategic transformation as MENA's international bank of the future. This achievement strengthens the bank's ability to accelerate digital innovation and respond even more swiftly to customers' needs. It also provides a robust foundation for Bank ABC's broader transformation as we continue to drive efficiency and enhance our international operations."

ila Bank's management said the platform change supports the digital bank's product roadmap.

"At ila Bank, we offer a distinctive digital banking experience that empowers customers with innovative solutions designed to enrich their lifestyle and meet their evolving financial needs. ila's migration onto Temenos' Cloud-native core banking platform on AWS underscores our commitment to sustaining our promise of delivering 'banking that reflects you'. This transition enhances our ability to launch new products faster, scale with confidence, and continue redefining consumer banking in the region," said Mohamed Al Maraj, Group Chief Retail & Digital Banking Officer and CEO of ila Bank.

Temenos said the go-live at ila Bank will be followed by further work across the wider Bank ABC programme.

"Congratulations to Bank ABC on the successful go-live at ila Bank. We're proud to support the growth of one of the region's most dynamic digital banks with our cloud-native core banking and payments technology, and we look forward to bringing this agility and advanced functionality to more of Bank ABC," said Santhosh Rao.

Systems Limited described the programme as a multi-stage engagement that will continue beyond the initial migration.

"We're proud to partner with Bank ABC on this landmark transformation. The implementation underscores our shared commitment to driving innovation at speed and scale. With our deep expertise in cloud-first deployments and in supporting digital and multi-country banks globally, this program sets a new benchmark for modern banking. As we extend our collaboration through end-to-end managed services, we enable Bank ABC to focus on growth and delivery of exceptional digital experiences, while we take care of managing the technology," said Ammara Masood.