One of the world's leading providers of self-service banking and payment software, Postilion, has won a bid to install its software on Bankom, Uganda's inter-bank switch.

Bankom went live with Postilion on Tuesday, processing transactions on behalf of the four financial institutions that are assigned to the switch.

Bankom, established in 2004, provides a number of services to financial institutions in the region, including the facilitation, management and maintenance of ATMs (automatic teller machines). It has the support of the local bankers' association and is exclusively licensed by the Bank of Uganda.

The Postilion offering for ATM owners is being used to drive the SmartPoint ATM network that is being rolled out across Uganda to complement the ATM networks of Bankom's existing partners, said Bernard Mogaka, Bankom's sales and marketing manager.

"Bankom's migration to the Postilion platform has enabled more operational flexibility through user-friendly monitoring and technical tools," Mogaka said. "Postilion offers real-time connections, enabling quicker transaction times and faster troubleshooting."

It also enables innovation through the facilitation of e-payment channels, such as bill payment, mobile banking services and mobile phone account top-ups, he added.

"Through its deployment of Postilion, Bankom has brought innovation and improvements to the country's financial sector," said Deon van Biljon, Postilion Africa's senior vice president and general manager.

Postilion is a division of S1 Corporation, which offers advanced transactions through Internet access points, point-of-sale terminals, ATMs and mobile phones.