## Introduction 
With modern technology facilitating digital deposit growth, banks no longer need to rely heavily on physical branches. To expand geographic reach, streamline innovation, and promote scalability, a top-50 U.S. bank decided to build a standalone digital bank proof-of-concept (POC) focused primarily on high-yield savings accounts.

The client recognized Levvel as a natural fit to drive the overall digital bank effort from strategy and vendor evaluations to the POC build thanks to deep banking expertise and familiarity with vendor options.

## Challenge 
Many banks’ in-house tech stacks are outdated, and the client felt slowed by
their legacy footprint. The client wanted to increase deposits and remain competitive by introducing this digital bank, but it wasn’t easy to modernize existing platforms without lengthy lead times. 

![A+Top+50+U.S.+Bank+Builds+Proof-of-Concept-Study-Box](//images.ctfassets.net/zqj370hybozc/VBCRa4oHb9nXTWmFBpU28/9f4455de6fda363ea0602620e884c114/A_Top_50_U.S._Bank_Builds_Proof-of-Concept-Study-Box.png)

## Approach 
With Levvel’s expertise, the bank embarked on both a strategy and implementation phase. The strategy phase lasted approximately 90 days, where Levvel provided expertise on standing up a net new digital bank and optimizing the vendor ecosystem to achieve their strategic vision. 

__Levvel needed to determine the key requirements, considerations, and vendor selections to create a proof of concept. This included:__

- __Exploration:__ A deep dive into existing bank-related services and reviewing potential implementation options.
- __Vendor Strategy:__ Helping the bank challenge themselves and internal stakeholders to follow a new decision model aligned to their priorities of flexible vendor platforms built with modern technology.
- __Solution Design:__ Creating a detailed comparison of preferred options and vendors, along with a list of risks and gaps. This included responsibilities for each internal and external stakeholder.
- __Decision Support:__ Approving vendor selection, modernizing architecture, and forging a new way to build bank platforms.

![A+Top+50+U.S.+Bank+Builds+Proof-of-Concept-Quote](//images.ctfassets.net/zqj370hybozc/46XxUJz9p5gd7hCXwVvfRu/16ab8bdb39fdc15c234f0d9f2c112265/A_Top_50_U.S._Bank_Builds_Proof-of-Concept-Quote.png)

__With a clear roadmap in place, the implementation phase involved:__

- Creating a CI/CD pipeline (automating building, testing, and deployment)
- Developing middleware and integration layer (bridged the gap between operating system and applications)
- Coordinating across multiple vendors and a cadre of internal stakeholders
- Adapting the client’s culture toward more agile workflows

## Results 
Levvel partnered with [Finxact](https://finxact.com/ "Finxact"), [Apiture](https://www.apiture.com/ "Apiture"), and [Savana](https://www.savanainc.com/ "Savana") to build a functional digital bank proof-of-concept in just 106 days. This included operational instances of Finxact’s native cloud core, Apiture’s customer front-end, and Savana’s servicing platform, all of which proved out a model for the bank to quickly adopt modern technology and improve speed-to-market for future products and efforts.

![A+Top+50+U.S.+Bank+Builds+Proof-of-Concept-Results-FINAL-Version](//images.ctfassets.net/zqj370hybozc/s3cIakVyJlLrFzkhi45nC/90489471a925d0b72c086fb5e5f7df8d/A_Top_50_U.S._Bank_Builds_Proof-of-Concept-Results-FINAL-Version.png)

## Download the PDF
You can access the PDF [here](https://cdn-new.levvel.io/resource-assets/A+Top+50+U.S.+Bank+Builds+Proof-of-Concept+of+Digital-Only%2C+Cloud-Core%2C+Companion+Bank+Leveraging+Finxact%2C+Apiture%2C+and+Savana.pdf "A Top 50 U.S. Bank Builds Proof-of-Concept of Digital-Only, Cloud-Core, Companion Bank Leveraging Finxact, Apiture, and Savana").

A Top 50 U.S. Bank Builds Proof-of-Concept of Digital-Only, Cloud-Core, Companion Bank Leveraging Finxact, Apiture, & Savana

Levvel Research's 2021 Real-Time Payments Report (RTP) provides a guide to the many use cases of RTP for businesses and outlines the ROI of adoption for financial management processes, product delivery, and customer satisfaction. 

Our 2021 Real-Time Payments Market Insight Report is here

Levvel teams up with top-50 U.S. bank to build a standalone digital bank to expand geographic reach, streamline innovation, and promote scalability.

A Top 50 U.S. Bank Builds Proof-of-Concept of Digital-Only, Cloud-Core, Companion Bank Leveraging Finxact, Apiture, & Savana

Our 2021 Real-Time Payments Market Insight Report is here

A Top 50 U.S. Bank Builds Proof-of-Concept of Digital-Only, Cloud-Core, Companion Bank Leveraging Finxact, Apiture, & Savana

Read the Case Study