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Renaissance Credit launches lending in the cloud - a first in West Africa; Up and running in just 2 months with a range of innovative services such as point of sales loans(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) GENEVA, Switzerland -- Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the market leading provider of banking software, today announces that Renaissance Credit (RenCredit), a new microfinance institution in Lagos, Nigeria, has launched on TEMENOS T24 for Microfinance and Community Banking (MCB), hosted in the cloud on Windows Azure. RenCredit is the first financial institution in West Africa to launch with a cloud-hosted core banking system. The system went live just two months from signing, demonstrating the ease of implementing cloud technology as part of the modern banking revolution. RenCredit -- a subsidiary of Renaissance Group -- a leading emerging markets investment firm -- is supporting the aspirations of the growing middle class in Nigeria. It aims to provide broader access to consumer credit in Nigeria, which will support the country's move from a cash to a transaction-based society. Opting for a cloud-based core banking system enables RenCredit to operate a pay-per-use model, meaning the bank can scale its IT infrastructure to fuel seamless expansion into other African regions, at low risk to the business. Temenos has created a model bank template and seamlessly integrated loan origination and biometric bolt-ons into the system, in addition to establishing connections to local electronic payments channels. This is a replicable model allowing RenCredit to access a pre-built infrastructure directly from the Internet - anywhere - and in turn, enabling it to focus on its core competence of banking. RenCredit will provide personal loans, street-level microfinancing, retail deposits and point of sale agreements whereby consumers purchasing from retailers will take a loan direct with RenCredit in exchange for goods. This triple lending function means RenCredit computes large volumes of transactions through which the business relies on a credit scoring engine provided by Experian. This software works seamlessly with the Temenos cloud solution for advanced decision making on all loans. George Taylor, Chairman of Renaissance Credit Nigeria, said: "Microfinance is serving a huge market need in Africa, bringing credit lines to the 'unbanked'. Renaissance Credit offers a compelling proposition to Nigeria, coupling microfinance loans, with point of sale lending. Temenos delivered our core banking system in just two months -- that is surely a record. We will benefit from high levels of security, reliability, availability from Temenos -- and the latest functionality as the upgrades to the software are taken care of by Temenos and Microsoft Windows Azure. Renaissance Credit's mission is to provide a unique microfinance service -- T24 MCB in the cloud allows us to concentrate fully on that goal, with no distractions." Karen T. Cone, General Manager, Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft Corp. said: "We are delighted to have a key strategic relationship with Temenos and excited to support the banking industry's transition to core banking delivered via the cloud. The Windows Azure platform and T24 offer a close fit and viable alternative to up-front capital heavy technology investments. Not only will this provide a differentiating edge to banks looking to take their products to market rapidly, it helps offer microfinancing and banking services to people who haven't had access to them before." David Arnott, CEO, Temenos, commented: "The cloud is rapidly knocking down the barriers to entry within retail banking, and African institutions are capitalising on this. RenCredit has entered the market with minimal IT outlay and has set its sights on continental expansion. Relieving the bank of IT maintenance allows RenCredit to focus on capturing market share in Nigeria and realise its vision of becoming a leading microfinance lender in Africa. Temenos enjoys working with disruptive market entrants, and recognises that speed to market and low total cost of ownership are essential when launching a financial institution -- T24 model bank is designed for this." The RenCredit initiative is testament to Temenos' strong, global partnership network. The project was supported by Temenos' specialist partner in the region, Jethro, which deployed the solution in a very short timescale and on budget. About Temenos Founded in 1993 and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange ( SIX: TEMN ), Temenos Group AG is the market leading provider of banking software systems to retail, corporate, universal, private, Islamic, microfinance and community banks, wealth managers, and financial institutions. Headquartered in Geneva with more than 55 offices worldwide, Temenos is proven in over 1,500 customer deployments in more than 125 countries across the world. Temenos' software products provide advanced technology and rich functionality, incorporating best practice processes that leverage Temenos' expertise around the globe. Temenos customers are proven to be more profitable than their peers: as of April 2012 -- over the last 3 years Temenos customers have enjoyed on average a 30% higher return on assets, a 46% higher return on capital and a cost/income ratio that is 8.5 points lower than non-Temenos customers. For more information please visit www.temenos.com Temenos contacts: Ben Robinson Director of Strategy and Marketing Tel: +41 22 708 15 35 Email: [email protected] Michael Golding Head of Communications Tel: +44 (0) 207 423 3751 Email: [email protected] Andrew Smith Head of Investor Relations Tel: +44 (0) 207 423 3713 Email: [email protected] Grace Keeling Hotwire for Temenos Tel: +44 (0) 207 608 8362 Email: [email protected] ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). (c) 2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |