How Banks in MEA can Modernize While Minimizing Disruption
Marcus Swanepoel, Manager Business Solutions, Temenos Africa
Banks across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are facing a familiar challenge: the need to modernize, without risking service continuity. Customers expect faster, more intuitive banking experiences, while regulators are tightening oversight and fintech competition is raising the bar on what is possible and expected. However, even with urgency on all sides, banks cannot afford downtime. They cannot afford to ‘rip and replace’ what already works. The question is: how do you modernize without causing major disruption?
At Temenos, we believe the answer lies in modularity, agility, and strategic execution. All of these are underpinned by a cloud-first, API-enabled core.
Start where it matters most
Legacy platforms remain the reality for many institutions in MEA. These systems were often built for a different era. They are expensive to maintain, difficult to adapt, and increasingly out of step with today’s banking needs. But a full system overhaul is not always practical or necessary.
Instead, modernization can begin in the areas that will have the biggest impact. This might mean automating onboarding, simplifying payments, or surfacing better customer insights through real-time data. With our modular architecture, banks can upgrade one function at a time, choosing the sequence that works for them.
This phased approach lowers risk and ensures continuity, even as major changes happen behind the scenes.
Cloud, APIs, and the case for optionality
Technology choices matter. Across MEA, banks are turning to cloud-based solutions for scale, speed, and cost-effectiveness. But each institution is on its own path. That is why we offer a single code base that can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or via software-as-a-service (SaaS), giving banks the flexibility to align with internal governance or local regulation.
APIs (application programming interfaces) are another critical enabler. APIs are a set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate with each other. Open APIs enable banks to plug in new capabilities, collaborate with fintechs, and extend their ecosystem while preserving core systems. The result is innovation without instability.
People and process come first
Technology alone does not transform an institution. It is how people use it and how work gets done that makes the difference.
In many MEA banks, processes remain heavily manual and paper intensive. These bottlenecks slow progress and frustrate customers. We help banks break these inefficiencies through smart process automation and a modular approach to architecture. The goal is not just faster service, but better experiences for employees.
Transformation also requires cultural readiness. Successful banks invest early in reskilling, change management, and internal alignment. Change works best when it is done with teams, not to them.
Stronger together
Modernization is no longer a solo effort. Whether it is launching Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) models, integrating new payment options, or enhancing compliance processes, collaboration is critical.
We have seen how partnerships speed up delivery and unlock new possibilities. We support our clients with more than technology. We bring trusted partners into the fold to co-create, integrate, and scale faster.
Trust, continuity, and what customers value most
As banks modernize, one thing must stay constant: trust. Transformation should never come at the expense of stability or service quality. That is why continuity must be built into the process and not treated as a constraint.
We enable banks to run legacy and modern systems in parallel, move at their own pace, and avoid downtime. You do not need to switch everything off to switch something new on. It is about building the bridge while you are still walking on it.
Transformation without disruption is already happening
Across the region, we are seeing banks make smart, measured progress. They are proving that it is possible to modernize with minimal disruption – and without delay.
We are proud to support this momentum; working side by side with our clients to modernize core systems, introduce new capabilities, and prepare for what is next, all while keeping the lights on.
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