#Japan #Chiyoda, Tokyo #Sony Bank #Fujitsu AI #Fujitsu Core Banking

Sony Bank Partners with Fujitsu for AI-Driven Banking Innovation

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Sony Bank and Fujitsu have officially embarked on an ambitious journey to integrate Generative AI into their core banking systems. Announced recently, this initiative signals a move towards transforming how banking operations function by enhancing efficiency and adaptability. The partnership's focus is on implementing Fujitsu's innovative core banking solution, Fujitsu Core Banking xBank (Cross Bank), set to commence in September 2025 with plans for full functionality deployment by April 2026.

The Transformation Journey

The implementation of Generative AI marks a significant milestone in Sony Bank’s strategy to modernize its banking operations. By embracing cloud-native architecture through the Fujitsu Core Banking xBank, Sony Bank will transition all its banking systems to the cloud by May 2025. This shift promises to significantly enhance not only the flexibility and scalability of the bank’s technological framework but also to streamline overall banking services.

The new system will empower Sony Bank to leverage the benefits of cloud-native environments fully, establishing a development ecosystem centered around Generative AI. Fujitsu and Sony Bank are determined to set a standard in Japan's financial industry for the effective application of AI, aiming to become a model of advanced AI utilization within the sector.

Overview of the Initiative

The partnership's initial focus will be on the development and testing phases, utilizing Fujitsu's unique technology of Knowledge Graph Augmented RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) to enhance the input data quality for Generative AI. This innovative approach will involve linking relationships within vast datasets via a knowledge graph, subsequently refining AI accuracy over time.

The aim is to integrate AI throughout all stages of system development, covering aspects such as management, requirement definition, and operational maintenance. This will lead to a remarkable 20% reduction in development time. Additionally, by employing Amazon Web Services (AWS) for all developmental processes, the initiative promises robust scalability and enhanced security, thus improving development efficiency significantly. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem where the advantages of Fujitsu Core Banking xBank are complemented by the capabilities of AWS, ensuring continuous quality improvement and rapid development cycles.

Future Directions

Moving forward, Sony Bank plans to maximize the cloud-native features of its new core banking system by integrating various external services and adopting cutting-edge technologies. This strategy aims not only to enhance development efficiency and quality but also to accelerate the introduction of new products and services. Moreover, Fujitsu is committed to providing its financial expertise alongside Uvance, its suite of advanced solutions, to further elevate financial businesses, ultimately contributing to a more prosperous society.

Statements from Leadership

Tatsuya Fukushima, Executive Officer of Sony Bank, expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, "At Sony Bank, we consistently aim to provide new value to our customers through technology. Partnering with Fujitsu in developing a Generative AI-driven core banking system allows us to balance efficiency with quality, and we are excited to take a significant step towards shaping the future of financial services."

Fujitsu's Executive Officer, Masaru Yagi, echoed these sentiments, noting, "Following the successful launch of the next-generation digital banking system, we are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Sony Bank to implement Generative AI in system development. This initiative is a declaration of our commitment to enhancing speed in product development and service delivery for Sony Bank, leveraging our AI technology and industry expertise to the fullest."

As both companies proceed with this innovative venture, they aim to set new benchmarks in the financial sector and demonstrate the transformative potential of AI-driven banking solutions.