SBS launches AI foundation for banks on existing systems

SBS has launched the SBS AI Foundation for banks that use its software, embedding generative AI across its banking, lending, and digital banking systems.

The launch targets more than 1,500 financial institutions in 80 countries that already rely on SBS products for core operations.

The offering is built on SBS's data platform and designed to use information already held in a bank's existing SBS systems. Data remains governed and secured within each institution's own environment.

The move comes as many banks continue to test artificial intelligence in limited projects rather than deploy it across major functions. SBS says only 34% of banks have scaled AI for a core process such as regulatory reporting or credit decisioning.

According to SBS, two main barriers have slowed wider adoption: close regulatory scrutiny and the difficulty of moving a pilot project across an organisation without trusted data from multiple internal systems.

Initial uses

AI is being introduced first in areas where banks face heavy administrative workloads, compliance pressure or missed commercial opportunities. The initial uses include customer engagement intelligence for relationship managers and an AI assistant for banking teams across service, compliance and operations.

The customer engagement tool is intended to give staff a broader view of each client before an interaction, including likely needs and possible products to discuss. The assistant is designed to help employees query their own data for answers that would otherwise require manual work.

SBS has positioned the system as part of the software stack banks already use rather than as a separate external add-on. That approach allows institutions to introduce AI without disrupting day-to-day operations.

The launch also reflects a broader shift among financial technology suppliers as they seek to integrate generative AI into existing banking systems rather than offering standalone pilot tools. For banks, that matters because core systems hold much of the operational and customer data needed for tasks such as onboarding, servicing, lending and risk oversight.

Banking footprint

SBS has operated in banking technology for decades and says its software is used by banks, building societies and lenders across a wide range of markets. Its customers include large international financial groups as well as domestic institutions.

The latest product builds on that footprint by connecting AI features to banking platforms already in use. SBS says this should help clients move from experimentation to wider deployment while keeping control of data within their own environments.

Availability is currently limited to select clients. A broader rollout is planned for early 2027.

Eric Bierry, Chief Executive Officer at SBS, outlined the company's rationale for the launch.

"SBS has a 50-year history working with our clients to ensure they have the technology and data that helps them best serve their customer base. When our clients started asking how to deploy AI safely and drive value for their business while meeting regulatory requirements, we built the answer into the platforms they already run on," said Eric Bierry, Chief Executive Officer at SBS.