Banking POC to Production...
Delivering PSD2 Compliance for a Challenger Bank: A Seamless API & Payment Gateway Transformation
In today’s fast-changing banking landscape, regulatory requirements like PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2) have redefined how financial institutions operate, pushing them to adapt quickly and strategically. One of our clients, a major challenger bank, faced the critical need to modernise its API and payment gateway infrastructure to achieve PSD2 compliance. I, Bret Duffield, had the privilege of leading this transformation from proof of concept (POC) to full enterprise delivery, managing the migration from IBM infrastructure to Apigee for both the API Gateway and Payment Gateway solutions.
From POC to Production: A Strategic Approach
The project began with a 6-month POC aimed at rapidly demonstrating value while laying the groundwork for a robust, scalable solution. My role as Project Manager was to oversee the transition of the bank’s API management platform (APIM) from IBM and vCloud to a production-ready Apigee environment. This process involved building out core infrastructure, ensuring operational reliability, and preparing the systems for seamless integration into the bank’s ecosystem.
Key Challenges & Solutions
PSD2 compliance meant more than just technical upgrades; it required a complete rethink of how the bank’s systems handled open banking demands, security, and customer data. Managing this level of complexity involved:
- Coordination Across Teams: Ensuring alignment between development, operations, and business stakeholders to maintain focus on strategic goals.
- Risk Management: Mitigating risks associated with transitioning critical systems without impacting ongoing services.
- Scalability: Preparing the infrastructure to support the bank’s ambitious growth while meeting regulatory standards.
Delivering Results: Efficiency and Agility in Action
The project’s first-year objectives centred on delivering value fast. Over 12 months, the POC evolved into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), followed by a scale-out phase to integrate the new systems across the bank’s operations.
- Timeline and Scope Management: By keeping the project on track and within scope, we met all regulatory deadlines without compromising quality.
- Strategic Alignment: The solution was carefully tailored to align with the bank’s broader objectives, reinforcing its reputation for reliability and customer-centric innovation.
- Future-Proofing: The new infrastructure not only met PSD2 requirements but also positioned the bank for future challenges, with the scalability needed to grow in a highly competitive market.
The Outcome
This successful implementation showcased the bank’s ability to remain agile in a tightly regulated industry. By leveraging structured delivery, focused risk management, and clear communication, the project delivered a compliant, scalable, and high-performing API and Payment Gateway solution.If your organisation is navigating similar regulatory or infrastructure challenges, I’d love to discuss how my experience can help drive your next transformation. Let’s connect and explore how we can deliver value, fast.