Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and Sopra Banking Software – a global leader in software, integration, support and advisory services – have collaborated in building the information system for the new bank Banque Sino-Congolaise pour l’Afrique, which offers a complete range of retail banking and corporate finance services.

This partnership represents several firsts for both ABC and Sopra Banking Software: ABC is the first Chinese bank to establish itself in Central Africa, and one of the first in all of Africa; it is the first Chinese bank to use Sopra Banking Software’s Amplitude solution; it is also the first bank to acquire Sopra Banking Software’s new enlarged global card management offer, a front-to-back solution created in collaboration with Sopra Steria.

ABC was founded in 1951, and today places 3rd in the Forbes ‘World’s Biggest Public Companies’ ranking, with a turnover of $189 billion in 2014. The growing influence of China in numerous sectors of the African economy has led ABC to open La Banque Sino-Congolaise pour l’Afrique (BSCA) as a joint venture with a Congolese consortium. BSCA is first establishing itself in Congo-Brazzaville before developing in other African countries. 

Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of Guangzhou Application Development Center for Overseas business at ABC commented, “We were impressed by Sopra Banking Software, not only for its position as a market leader in Africa, but also for its capability to commit itself to a rapid implementation.” 

Sopra Banking Software provides banking solutions for over 600 banks in 70 countries. It is the leading banking solution provider in many countries both in Europe and Africa with 40 years experience and proven expertise. Sopra Banking Amplitude – the selected core banking solution – has a long history of addressing the needs of new banks opening in Africa particularly with the provision of turn-key solutions.

The President of Banque Sino-Congolese Pour l’Afrique (BSCA) commented at the opening ceremony of BSAC, “The entire team of BSCA is very pleased with the work that the Sopra Banking team delivered. The team’s dedication, diligence and professionalism are exemplary, and it explains how they became the market leader in Africa. It’s hard to imagine how we could build a bank from scratch in merely five and half months without close collaboration with Sopra Banking and the rich experience brought by the project team.”