Logo of Premier Bank Somalia showcasing Islamic banking services - Global Banking & Finance Review
The logo of Premier Bank Somalia, the first Islamic bank in the country, highlights its commitment to innovative Sharia-compliant banking solutions as it launches the iMAL system.
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SOMALIA’S FIRST ISLAMIC BANK GOES LIVE WITH IMAL ISLAMIC CORE BANKING SYSTEM

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on January 24, 2015

3 min read

· Last updated: November 30, 2018

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Premier Bank Adopts iMAL Islamic Core Banking

Premier Bank in Somalia has formally announced that it has successfully gone live with Path Solutions’ iMAL Islamic Banking & Investment System on the 29th of December 2014. The implementation of the new R14 Branch Automation in the latest Java version will allow Premier Bank to achieve its main objective of delivering superior customer service through innovative and quality Sharia-compliant products.

Objectives and Business Benefits of iMAL Rollout

The new version of iMAL serves the bank’s purposes of focusing on its business growth, managing risks and controlling costs. With the cooperation of all parties, Premier Bank was able to successfully conclude its first go live phase.

Mr. Mahat Mohamed Ahmed, Managing Director of Premier Bank

Mr. Mahat Mohamed Ahmed, Managing Director of Premier Bank

Jacob Zachariah Karuvelil, Executive Vice President Global Professional Services & Global Support at Path Solutions commented, “This project had been unique and challenging in many ways with extremely short timelines; the iMAL new version, the high risk location and the need for multiple remote implementation tasks which included Web-based Training, User Acceptance Test and Go Live. Nevertheless, with great pride we announce that all of this was successfully managed and completed three days ahead of schedule, meeting the scope and project objectives as planned”.

Phased Implementation Approach of iMAL System

And he added, “Phase I implementation covers System Admin, Accounting, Customer Service Management (CSM), Report Designer, SWIFT, Alerts (SMS Banking), and Processing modules in iMAL. Phase II implementation is already in progress and includes Facility Management System, Islamic Investment System, Provisioning, Profit Calculation System  and Integration Manager modules along with Internet Banking, ATM, and Mobile Banking”.

Premier Bank: Somalia’s First Islamic Bank

Premier Bank, SomaliaPremier Bank is the first privately owned Islamic bank established in Somalia. Licensed by the Central Bank of Somalia in 2014, the bank offers comprehensive one stop financial solutions to Somalia customers who include private and government institutions, corporate and SME businesses and individuals. Premier Bank products include Personal Banking Products, Business Banking Products, Trade and Finance Products, FOREX, Diaspora Banking Products, Mobile and Internet Banking, SMS Banking, International Money Transfer (SWIFT) Services.

“Working with Path Solutions has been a great experience; we appreciate the cooperation of their fully dedicated team and their in-depth knowledge in Islamic banking and technology”, said MahatMohamed Ahmed, Managing Director of Premier Bank. “This implementation was special as it’s been a fast core banking deployment for us. Now, we are able to bring all the advantages of the iMAL Islamic core banking suite to our staff and customers, including full Sharia compliance in all transactions, completely automated business processes, and unparalleled customer service”.

Track Record and Industry Standing of Path Solutions

Path Solutions has a two-decade long track record of successfully rolling out iMAL Islamic core banking solution. The company’s cutting-edge Sharia-compliant software solutions help Islamic financial institutions respond strategically to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

Fully committed to innovation, Path Solutions is the only IT vendor to show top of the IBS Annual Sales League Table for multiple consecutive years, as the world’s bestselling Islamic software provider.

Key Takeaways

  • Premier Bank Somalia became the first privately owned Islamic bank in Somalia, licensed in 2014 and went live with Path Solutions’ iMAL core banking system on December 29, 2014.
  • Phase I of the implementation included key modules like System Admin, Accounting, CSM, SWIFT and SMS Banking; Phase II added Internet, ATM, Mobile Banking and other investment and profit calculation modules.
  • The deployment was completed three days ahead of schedule despite challenges like remote implementation, training and UAT in a high‑risk location.
  • The iMAL system provides full Sharia compliance, enhanced automation, risk control, cost management and supports business growth.
  • Path Solutions, a leading Islamic banking software provider, continues to lead IBS sales rankings and has a two‑decade track record of deployments globally.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Premier Bank go live with iMAL?
Premier Bank launched Path Solutions’ iMAL Islamic Banking & Investment System on December 29, 2014.
What modules were included in Phase I implementation?
Phase I included System Admin, Accounting, Customer Service Management, Report Designer, SWIFT, Alerts (SMS Banking), and Processing modules.
What does Phase II implementation include?
Phase II covers Facility Management System, Islamic Investment System, Provisioning, Profit Calculation System, Integration Manager, Internet Banking, ATM, and Mobile Banking.
What are the benefits of using iMAL for Premier Bank?
iMAL provides full Sharia compliance, automated processes, better customer service, business growth, risk management, and cost control.

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