International Financial Institutions Adopt Windows NT Server At a Rapid Rate

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 4, 1997 — Financial institutions worldwide are constructing their next-generation computer infrastructures on the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server operating system.

In Japan, Windows NT is installed in 64 percent of financial institutions, according to JD Power-Japan Associates. Kimsey Consultants reports that Windows NT is installed in 60 percent of financial institutions in the United Kingdom, 41 percent of financial institutions in France, and 79 percent of financial institutions in Germany. Mentis Corp. predicts Windows NT will be the primary operating system installed in 88 percent of banks in Australia by 2000. This compares to an estimated 53 percent of large U.S. banks by the end of 1998.

Microsoft data indicate that most major New Zealand banks are currently implementing Windows NT. Windows NT is implemented at 74 percent of all banks in Mexico and six of the top 10 banks in Peru. In Spain, Windows NT is present in 30 percent of retail bank branches and since 1993 has been the platform chosen by 85 percent of banks upgrading their technology infrastructure. In Israel, Windows NT runs the branch offices of three of the largest banks.

“The growth rate of Windows NT Server in the United States is pretty remarkable, but the rate of overseas implementations is just amazing,” said Mike Dusche, worldwide financial services industry manager at Microsoft. “We feel that these adoption rates reflect the performance, scalability and reliability of Windows NT and prove that banks can benefit substantially from a single operating platform that allows banks to aggressively embrace alternate delivery channels.”

The banks adopting Windows NT include some of the largest international financial institutions. For example, Banco Bradesco is the largest private bank in Brazil, with assets of $36 billion, 20 million customers and nearly 2,000 branches that are migrating to Windows NT. Bradesco’s embrace of Microsoft technology allows it to construct a flexible “digital nervous system” that allows its customers to pay bills and transfer funds 24 hours a day at automated terminals, download electronic cash into a smart card from Bradesco’s Web site, and pay government vehicle tax fees online. Bradesco currently has 250,000 home banking customers using Microsoft Money and 160,000 customers banking online using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

In addition to the growing user base of Windows NT Server, Microsoft desktop operating systems are also expected to account for 87 percent of branch client PCs within two years, according to Mentis Corp.’s 1997 International Banking Systems and Technology report. And Kimsey Consultants reports that more than 70 percent of financial institutions in the United Kingdom, France and Germany are using Windows NT Workstation.

“Banks worldwide are using Microsoft BackOffice® components, including Windows NT and Microsoft SQL Server
™
, to link to legacy systems and reconstruct their entire computer infrastructure on one platform,” Dusche said.

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“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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