Sunday, 23 July 2017

MDM for Regulatory Compliance in the Banking Industry

Banking Regulations – Overview

Managing regulatory issues and risk has never been so complex. Regulatory expectations continue to rise with increased emphasis on the institution’s ability to respond to the next potential crisis. Financial Institutions continue to face challenges implementing a comprehensive enterprise-wide governance program that meets all current and future regulatory expectations. There has been a phenomenal rise in expectations related to data quality, risk analytics and regulatory reporting.

Following are some of the US regulations that MDM and customer 360 reports can be used for compliance:

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act)

FATCA was enacted to target non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers using foreign accounts. The objective of FATCA is the reporting of foreign financial assets. The ability to align all key stakeholders, including operations, technology, risk, legal, and tax, is critical to successfully comply with FATCA.

OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control)

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers a series of laws that impose economic sanctions against hostile targets to further U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. The bank regulatory agencies should cooperate in ensuring financial institutions comply with the Regulations.

FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act)

Its primary purpose is to reduce the risk of identity theft by regulating how consumer account information (such as Social Security numbers) is handled.

HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act)

This Act requires financial institutions to provide mortgage data to the public. HMDA data is used to identify probable housing discrimination in various ways.

Dodd Frank Regulations

The primary goal of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was to increase financial stability. This law places major regulations in the financial industry.

Basel III

A wide sweeping international set of regulations that many US banks must adhere to is Basel III. Basel III is a comprehensive set of reform measures, developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management of the banking sector.

What do banks need to meet regulatory requirements?

To meet the regulatory requirements described in the previous section, Banks need an integrated systems environment that addresses requirements such as Enterprise-wide data access, single source of truth for customer details, customer identification programs, data auditability & traceability, customer data synchronization across multiple heterogeneous operational systems, ongoing data governance, risk and compliance reports.

How MDM can help?




Enterprise view of customer data

MDM solutions providean enterprise view of all customer data to ensure that a customer is in compliance with Government imposed regulations (e.g. FATCA, Basel II/III, Dodd Frank, HMDA, OFAC, AML etc.) and facilitate data linking for easy access.

Compliance Users

Users who satisfy the compliance criteria will be able to retrieve the customer information such as name, address, contact method and demographics from the MDM solution. They will be able to ensure customer compliance while creating reports, performing reviews and monitor the customer against watch lists.

Compliance Applications

FATCA supporting applications, Dodd Frank reporting applications, HMDA compliance reporting applications, Basel II & III compliance applications receive a data extract from the MDM solution containing detailed customer information such as name, addresses, contact methods, identifiers, demographics and customer to account relationships that enhance compliance reporting and customer analytics.

Compliance users can ensure compliance with all FATCA laws, create reports, link customer information to create HMDA reports and provide complete financial profile of all commercial customers to ensure compliance with Basel II & III regulations

Regulatory Risk Users

Regulatory risk users will be able to use customer data from MDM solution, create reports on an ad hoc basis, and perform annual reviews to ensure customer is compliant with risk regulations. These users will also be able to check if customers are on existing watch lists through pre-configured alerts and update the MDM solution as required during annual reviews.

Regulatory Risk Applications

MDM solution supplies detailed customer information such as name, addresses, identifiers, demographics, and customer to account relationships to Applications supporting AML, OFAC data, KYC, fraud analysis so that they can determine compliance to regulations such as AML. OFAC standards, determine if the proper KYC data has been captured for all customers and monitors fraudulent activities of any customer.

MDM solution will receive a close account transaction from the AML applications if the regulatory risk user determines the customer relationship must be exited for AML non-compliance.OFAC applications update customer’s watch list status within the MDM solution and send add/update/delete customer alert transactions to monitor customers on OFAC watch lists.

Conclusion

MDM solutions when implemented properly, can provide critical information to banks who have to comply with a number of regulations across many countries. At InfoTrellis, we have helped many organizations achieve these goals through IBM MDM implementations.

 About the Author

Greg Pierce

Greg is a Senior MDM Business Architect at InfoTrellis. He has helped many clients across banking, insurance and retail clients actualize value out of their MDM investments.

InfoTrellis to be Acquired by Mastech Digital

InfoTrellis, Inc., a Toronto-based  Data Management & Analytics company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Mastech Digital, Inc. (NYSE:MHH), a leading Digital Transformation Services provider, will acquire InfoTrellis’ services division. The demand for Digital Transformation consulting services is growing rapidly, as more Fortune 1000 companies are funding digital transformation initiatives to reinvent how they do business.  Data & analytics is at the heart of every digital transformation strategy and our combination will bring together two differentiated companies – both with global brand recognition and complementary service offerings – and a unique value proposition to offer expertise and scalability in digital transformation consulting.

The acquired business, to be branded as Mastech InfoTrellis, will offer project-based consulting services to customers in the areas of Master Data Management, Data Integration, Big Data and Customer Intelligence Management (Customer 360), and at the same time strengthen Mastech Digital’s digital transformation services capability. InfoTrellis’ industry-wide recognition for its thought leadership and depth in data management & analytics, as well as proven global delivery expertise, will enhance the growth opportunities of the combined entity.
“Mastech Digital has global brand recognition and is highly respected in the IT industry, and InfoTrellis is very excited to join them,” said Mahmood Abbas, CEO and Co-founder of InfoTrellis.  “I am confident that our strengths in delivering consulting services in data management & analytics, combined with Mastech Digital’s scale and proven experience in providing IT staffing and digital transformation services, will offer a unique value proposition in the market of scalable consulting teams with deep expertise.”
The transaction is valued at USD $55 million, with USD $35.7 million paid in cash at closing and USD $19.3 million deferred over an earn-out period .
InfoTrellis and Mastech Digital expect to realize several synergies from the combined enterprise:

  • Ability to participate in larger digital transformation deals
  • Opportunity to cross-sell broader range of service offerings to existing and future customers of both businesses
  • Larger scale, improved operational efficiencies and expanded global delivery model
  • Better economies of scale from shared support services integration

“We began transforming Mastech into a digital transformation services company a year ago when we launched our new name ‘Mastech Digital’ and recast our service offerings,” said Vivek Gupta, President and CEO of Mastech Digital. “The acquisition of InfoTrellis will be a significant milestone in that journey. I am delighted with the capabilities InfoTrellis brings to the Mastech Digital family and am excited about creating a combined organization that will deliver world-class services around Data Management & Analytics in its expanded portfolio of digital transformation services.”
The combined entity will have augmented scale, expanded global delivery capability, and deeper leadership strength. “The integration will advance our vision of addressing the wider challenges faced by our clients in adopting Big Data and Advanced Analytics,” said Sachin Wadhwa, COO and Co-founder of InfoTrellis. “We believe the combination of Mastech Digital and InfoTrellis will have a meaningful impact in the way Data Management and Analytics consulting is delivered by us.“ 
Mahmood Abbas and Sachin Wadhwa will continue to play the leadership role in the combined entity.
The product division of InfoTrellis has been spun off as a separate company called AllSight, Inc., and Zahid Naeem, one of the cofounders of InfoTrellis, has moved to the AllSight company. “Our vision for InfoTrellis consulting has always been to provide premium data management and analytics consulting services for our clients,” said Zahid Naeem.  “This partnership with Mastech Digital is a major milestone in continuing with that vision. We are also looking forward to a strong partnership between the combined entity and AllSight Inc., as Customer Intelligence Management, or a Customer 360, is a critical software system to deliver upon a digital transformation strategy.”  
InfoTrellis has over 200 associates globally, a customer-base of more than 40 blue chip customers in North America, offices in Toronto (Canada) and Austin (Texas, U.S.), as well as a global delivery center in Chennai (India).  Mastech Digital has nearly 1,300 associates globally, a customer-base of over 300 companies, seven offices across the US, as well as a delivery center in New Delhi (India).
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in July 2017.
About Mastech Digital
Mastech Digital (NYSE MKT: MHH) is a national provider of IT services focused on solving its customers’ digital transformation challenges. The Company’s IT staffing services span across digital and mainstream technologies while its digital transformation services include Salesforce.com, SAP HANA, and digital learning services. A minority-owned enterprise, Mastech Digital is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with offices across the U.S. and India. For more information, visit www.mastechdigital.com.
About InfoTrellis
InfoTrellis is a Canada-based Information Management Consulting and Technology Services Company that provides project and consulting services in Master Data Management, Data Integration and Big Data.

Sunday, 16 July 2017

InfoTrellis to be Acquired by Mastech Digital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – July 7, 2017: InfoTrellis, Inc., a Toronto-based  Data Management & Analytics company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Mastech Digital, Inc. (NYSE: MHH), a leading Digital Transformation Services provider, will acquire InfoTrellis’ services division. The demand for Digital Transformation consulting services is growing rapidly, as more Fortune 1000 companies are funding digital transformation initiatives to reinvent how they do business.  Data & analytics is at the heart of every digital transformation strategy and our combination will bring together two differentiated companies – both with global brand recognition and complementary service offerings – and a unique value proposition to offer expertise and scalability in digital transformation consulting.
The acquired business, to be branded as Mastech InfoTrellis, will offer project-based consulting services to customers in the areas of Master Data Management, Data Integration, Big Data and Customer Intelligence Management (Customer 360), and at the same time strengthen Mastech Digital’s digital transformation services capability. InfoTrellis’ industry-wide recognition for its thought leadership and depth in data management & analytics, as well as proven global delivery expertise, will enhance the growth opportunities of the combined entity.
“Mastech Digital has global brand recognition and is highly respected in the IT industry, and InfoTrellis is very excited to join them,” said Mahmood Abbas, CEO and Co-founder of InfoTrellis.  “I am confident that our strengths in delivering consulting services in data management & analytics, combined with Mastech Digital’s scale and proven experience in providing IT staffing and digital transformation services, will offer a unique value proposition in the market of scalable consulting teams with deep expertise.”
The transaction is valued at USD $55 million, with USD $35.7 million paid in cash at closing and USD $19.3 million deferred over an earn-out period .
InfoTrellis and Mastech Digital expect to realize several synergies from the combined enterprise:
  • Ability to participate in larger digital transformation deals
  • Opportunity to cross-sell broader range of service offerings to existing and future customers of both businesses
  • Larger scale, improved operational efficiencies and expanded global delivery model
  • Better economies of scale from shared support services integration
 “We began transforming Mastech into a digital transformation services company a year ago when we launched our new name ‘Mastech Digital’ and recast our service offerings,” said Vivek Gupta, President and CEO of Mastech Digital. “The acquisition of InfoTrellis will be a significant milestone in that journey. I am delighted with the capabilities InfoTrellis brings to the Mastech Digital family and am excited about creating a combined organization that will deliver world-class services around Data Management & Analytics in its expanded portfolio of digital transformation services.”
 The combined entity will have augmented scale, expanded global delivery capability, and deeper leadership strength.  “The integration will advance our vision of addressing the wider challenges faced by our clients in adopting Big Data and Advanced Analytics,” said Sachin Wadhwa, COO and Co-founder of InfoTrellis.  “We believe the combination of Mastech Digital and InfoTrellis will have a meaningful impact in the way Data Management and Analytics consulting is delivered by us.“ 
Mahmood Abbas and Sachin Wadhwa will continue to play the leadership role in the combined entity.
The product division of InfoTrellis has been spun off as a separate company called AllSight, Inc., and Zahid Naeem, one of the Co-founders of InfoTrellis, has moved to the AllSight company. “Our vision for InfoTrellis consulting has always been to provide premium data management and analytics consulting services for our clients,” said Zahid Naeem.  “This partnership with Mastech Digital is a major milestone in continuing with that vision. We are also looking forward to a strong partnership between the combined entity and AllSight Inc., as Customer Intelligence Management, or a Customer 360, is a critical software system to deliver upon a digital transformation strategy.”  
InfoTrellis has over 200 associates globally, a customer-base of more than 40 blue chip customers in North America, offices in Toronto (Canada) and Austin (Texas, U.S.), as well as a global delivery center in Chennai (India).  Mastech Digital has nearly 1,300 associates globally, a customer-base of over 300 companies, seven offices across the US, as well as a delivery center in New Delhi (India).
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in July 2017.
About Mastech Digital
Mastech Digital (NYSE MKT: MHH) is a national provider of IT services focused on solving its customers’ digital transformation challenges. The Company’s IT staffing services span across digital and mainstream technologies while its digital transformation services include Salesforce.com, SAP HANA, and digital learning services. A minority-owned enterprise, Mastech Digital is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with offices across the U.S. and India. For more information, visit www.mastechdigital.com.
About InfoTrellis
InfoTrellis is a Canada-based Information Management Consulting and Technology Services Company that provides project and consulting services in Master Data Management, Data Integration, Customer Intelligence Management, and Big Data.