Course Overview

Week 1: Fundamentals of Core Banking and Business Analysis

• Objective: Understand core banking systems and the role of a Business System Analyst.
• Topics:
  • Core Banking Overview: Definition, key modules (deposits, loans, payments), and workflows.
  • Banking Products and Services: Retail banking, corporate banking, and wealth management.
  • Role of a BSA in Banking: Bridging business needs and technical implementation.
  • Introduction to Business Analysis: Requirement gathering, stakeholder management, and documentation.
  • Regulatory Overview: Key financial regulations (e.g., Basel III, AML/KYC, GDPR).
• Practical:
  • Diagram the end-to-end process of a loan origination system.
  • Create a stakeholder matrix for a core banking project.

Week 2: Core Banking System Architecture and Processes

• Objective: Explore the architecture and operational processes of core banking systems.
• Topics:
  • Core Banking Architecture: Monolithic vs. microservices-based systems.
  • Key Banking Processes: Account opening, transaction processing, and reconciliation.
  • System Integration: APIs, middleware, and third-party integrations.
  • Data Management: Data flow, ETL, and reporting in banking systems.
  • Challenges in Legacy Systems: Scalability, maintenance, and modernization.
• Practical:
  • Design a high-level architecture for a modern core banking system.
  • Map data flow for a customer account transaction lifecycle.

Week 3: Business Analysis Techniques and Tools

• Objective: Equip participants with analytical tools and techniques for successful project execution.
• Topics:
  • Requirements Gathering: Interviews, workshops, and observation.
  • Process Modeling: BPMN, UML, and flowcharts.
  • Documenting Requirements: Functional and non-functional requirements, use cases, and user stories.
  • Gap Analysis: Identifying differences between current and desired states.
  • Tools for Business Analysis: Jira, Confluence, Lucidchart, and Visio.
• Practical:
  • Develop a business requirements document (BRD) for a core banking feature.
  • Perform a gap analysis for a system upgrade project.

Week 4: Core Banking Modules and Functionalities

• Objective: Gain in-depth knowledge of core banking modules and their functionalities.
• Topics:
  • Deposits and Accounts: Savings, current, fixed deposits, and account maintenance.
  • Loans and Credit: Origination, processing, disbursement, and repayment tracking.
  • Payments: Domestic and international, real-time payments, and digital wallets.
  • Treasury Management: Liquidity, risk management, and investment portfolios.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Onboarding, support, and engagement tools.
• Practical:
  • Create a workflow for a loan origination system.
  • Define user stories for a payment integration module.

Week 5: Project Management and Testing in Core Banking

• Objective: Understand the project lifecycle, testing strategies, and deployment practices.
• Topics:
  • Core Banking Implementation Lifecycle: Initiation, development, deployment, and support.
  • Agile and Waterfall Methodologies: Pros and cons in core banking projects.
  • Testing in Banking Systems: Unit, system, regression, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
  • Change Management: Managing upgrades and migrations.
  • Risk Assessment: Identifying and mitigating project risks.
• Practical:
  • Create a test plan for a core banking module.
  • Develop a project timeline using Agile methodology.

Week 6: Emerging Trends and Future of Core Banking

• Objective: Explore innovative technologies and their implications for core banking systems.
• Topics:
  • Cloud Banking: Benefits and challenges of cloud-based core banking platforms.
  • Open Banking and APIs: Enabling third-party integrations and financial innovation.
  • Blockchain in Banking: Use cases in payments and smart contracts.
  • AI and ML Applications: Fraud detection, customer insights, and predictive analytics.
  • Digital Transformation: Trends and strategies for modernization.
• Practical:
  • Design an API strategy for an open banking initiative.
  • Develop a roadmap for transitioning a legacy system to the cloud.

Learning Outcomes

1. Comprehensive understanding of core banking systems and processes.
2. Ability to analyze business needs and translate them into technical requirements.
3. Knowledge of modern tools and techniques for business analysis and project management.
4. Expertise in core banking modules, integration, and testing methodologies.
5. Insights into emerging technologies and strategies for banking modernization.

Optional Certifications

• Business Analysis Certification: ECBA, CCBA, or CBAP (IIBA).
• Core Banking Platforms: Certifications from providers like Temenos, Finacle, or Mambu.
• Project Management: Agile (Scrum) or PMP.

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