Executive summary
Zafin and the Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN), in collaboration with a Tier 1 North American financial institution and other industry participants, developed a proof of concept to test the idea: can core banking dependency be reduced through a standardized, composable architecture?
The result was a working, cloud-based banking application built using the BIAN model, demonstrating that banking capabilities can be orchestrated outside of a traditional core. While intentionally limited in scope, the PoC provided a critical industry proof point: strategic modernization is absolutely achievable.
The challenge
For years, banks have explored modernization strategies to move away from monolithic core systems. But a persistent question remained:
Can this architecture actually work in practice?
Despite strong conceptual models, many institutions lacked:
- Proof that standardized frameworks like BIAN could be operationalized
- Confidence that core dependencies could be reduced without risk
- A shared way to define products, pricing, and interactions across vendors
For BIAN members, the opportunity was clear: move from PowerPoint to production-grade thinking.
The approach
The PoC focused on a deliberately simple but meaningful use case: building a standalone banking application capable of supporting core customer journeys such as:
- Opening a checking account
- Opening a savings account
- Applying for a loan
Using the BIAN service-domain model and Zafin’s product and pricing capabilities, the team:
- Designed a standardized representation of banking concepts
- Built a cloud-based application in Azure
- Orchestrated services without reliance on a traditional core system
- Delivered a functional banking experience in a controlled environment
The initiative brought together a global ecosystem of banks, technology providers, and partners—demonstrating true cross-industry collaboration.
What was achieved
Within a tightly scoped and time-boxed effort, the team successfully:
- Delivered a working banking application in approximately 10 weeks
- Completed core build phases in rapid development cycles
- Demonstrated product configuration, pricing, and quote generation within a working application
- Validated that BIAN standards can support executable, running software
Just as importantly, the PoC proved that:
- Banking capabilities can be modularized and orchestrated across domains
- Standardized models enable consistency across vendors and systems
- A composable architecture can reduce reliance on monolithic cores
Why it matters
This PoC marked a turning point for the industry.
It showed that banks don’t need to “rip and replace” their core systems to modernize. Instead, they can adopt a progressive, composable approach, layering new capabilities alongside existing infrastructure.
The broader impact included:
- Increased industry confidence in BIAN as a practical framework
- Validation of a migration path toward best-of-breed architecture
- Recognition from analysts and partners of composable banking as a viable strategy
In short, this PoC went beyond a technical exercise. It’s proof that modernization is possible, incremental, and real.
Looking ahead
While the PoC was not designed as a direct production implementation, its influence extended far beyond a single institution. This was the starting point of several PoC’s to follow.
The learnings have since:
- Informed subsequent, more advanced proof-of-concept initiatives
- Accelerated adoption of BIAN-aligned architectures across the industry
For all involved, the PoC marked the beginning of something larger — an industry-wide shift toward composable, standards-driven banking, and a clear path to unlocking growth that transforms markets.