IMS Payments
A well-organized transaction processing system that can simplify, manage and control the full breadth of payments, connectivity, integration and messaging.. IMS Payment Hub takes multiple roles in the industry, represented by services listed below.
The platform addresses the end-to-end processing of payments covering initiation, validation, compliance, intelligent routing and pre/post-payment services. It extends role-based dashboards and interfaces to obtain greater visibility and control at the branch, department, region and entity level.
The data processing happens in 3 distinct stages whereby the progress from inception to settlement and beyond to data governance and reporting can be monitored and controlled through dashboards and interfaces.
Payment Initiation
Payments can be initiated through a series of methods.
Manual Entry:
The platform extends forms, smart forms and templates for initiating payments from branch offices of the bank.
Online Channels:
Customers can initiate payments from online channels without having to go to a branch office of the bank. They can also upload files with multiple payment instructions through the interface.
Corporate Onboarding:
Corporate customers can integrate one or more of their ERP applications with the IMS Payment platform for exchanging integrated files for both payables as well as receivables.
CBS Integration:
ECS connects with all Core Banking Systems to receive payment instructions and send back responses via any protocol. It will also send postings of incoming payments.
Integrated File Processing:
Corporate customers can connect to the platform and sent integrated files or payment instructions via all known protocols including APIs. Corporates can also utilize the ECS bank hub network for connecting directly to major banks with whom ECS has already established communication channels .
Pre-Payment Processing
All incoming data from internal applications and external entities are subject to a series of pre-processing services. Interface and Dashboards are extended to the appropriate stakeholders for visibility, control and for taking necessary actions. The Payment Profile, user preferences and market practices can decide which channel/rail to be used for this purpose.
Validations:
Validates manually created messages as well as messages received through various communication channels against format requirements, field representation, presence of mandatory fields, conditional fields as per situation, network rules and business rules.
Enrichment:
Messages can be enriched using information within the message or using data outside the messages. The platform manages a series of reference data tables for the sake of enrichment, substitution, validation and decisions.
Duplicate Check:
PDM check can be done on each type of message differently. The fields that should be used for comparison and the number of days to be searched from historical data can be set differently for each type/category of message.
Sanctions Screening:
Payment messages can be subject to sanctions screening using database locally available within IMS or by making calls to provider of data. OFAC, home grown lists, white lists and various type of exclusion list can be managed through tables allocated for such purposes.
AML:
IMS facilitates a series of rules that can be engaged for detecting patterns in movement of money that violates regulatory requirements. Calls can be made to providers of such services as well.
Filters:
This facility allows flagging of specific messages based on account number or certain strings in the message by instantly supplying such values to the filter facility. Disputes with counterparties may call for such activities.
Payment Routing
Affirmed payments are routed to appropriate payment module. The platform identifies all possible routing through which the Beneficiary’s bank can be credited optimizing time/cost as needed. The IMS payment platform is rich with connections to various clearing and settlement channels. For every payment request, a complete disclosure of cost vs. settlement time expected against each channel can be disclosed for assisting the customer in optimizing routing decisions.
The routing decisions can be based on many factors. Some of them are listed below
Clearing & Settlement
The modules encapsulate workflows associated with each service and extends dashboards and interface for approvals, tracking and for handling exceptions. ECS offers direct connection to SWIFT, Federal Reserve, The Clearing House, various market infrastructure and central banks for clearing and settling payments.
Post-Payment Processing
Payment instructions that are successfully settled will affect post-payment services like cash positions, customer balances, Nostro balances, customer services, data governance and reporting. Since the modules communicate internally, dashboards display data at real-time.
Cash Positions & Balances: Know your cash positions and balances at real-time. Update Nostro/Vostro accounts and customer accounts as money moves out or comes in. Utilize scheduled payments for forecasting and understanding balances as of today or ‘n’ days from today.
Statement Management: Receive statements from banks as MT940/ MT942/Multi-Cash/Excel and other proprietary formats. Organize statements by messages, account number, currency, customer etc. Add comments to individual transaction within a statement thereby enabling inter-department communication with a specific transaction as underlying subject.
Statement Reconciliation
Validates the bank’s cash positions and balances against counterparty’s books and records. Utilizes end-of-day statements. Unmatched entries on instructions will be notified to interested parties for investigations.
Organizes incoming statements by account number, currency, etc., for analyses and display. Creates and sends out end-of-day statements to counterparties and customers in preferred formats and protocols.
Data Governance & Reports
Safe keep all messaging and transaction processing data in well-organized reference data tables. Web based secured access by Roles and Entitlement. Data summary reports and Ad-hoc reporting. Export to Excel/PDF/CSV etc. Schedules for delivering by email or other methods to interested parties.