Grand Central Connectors

Grand Central Connectors are API-based integrations that connect your applications, such as Backbase Engagement Banking Platform (EBP), to third-party systems like core banking systems or fintech providers. These connectors are powered by Grand Central iPaaS. Grand Central Connectors offer capabilities aligned with both Retail and Business ModelBank, enabling seamless integration for financial institutions and their customers.

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Benefits

Grand Central Connectors offer the following benefits:

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Faster time-to-market

• Streamline your development process by leveraging pre-built connectors
• Eliminate the need to wait for API readiness; connectors are integrated out of the box
• Eliminate the need for extensive custom development by leveraging configurable connectors and repositories

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Upgradable

• Ensure your integrations stay current with the latest core banking APIs
• Regular updates align the core bank connectors with industry standards and functionalities

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Configurable

• Configure connectors to meet your specific requirements
• Adapt by changing API mappings and configuring transformations based on your requirements
• Dynamic configurations within the repository enable adjustments and changes without extensive code modifications

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Customizable

• Modify the default API functionality to align with your business needs
• Add custom fields to personalize the connectors according to your specific requirements
• Tailor data structures and flows to accommodate specific retail banking requirements

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Flexible and scalable

• Implementing updates through the core connector configurations ensures the APIs remain flexible and responsive
• Changes are tested and deployed across different environments, maintaining consistency and reliability
• Scale banking operations by extending core functionalities with minimal development effort

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BIAN domain model

• Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN) is a reference architecture to standardize and modernize the IT architecture of the banking industry. It provides a framework and reference architecture to help banks and financial institutions achieve interoperability, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in their IT systems
• Grand Central standardizes business interactions with core banking and third-party systems in the banking industry through integration APIs and service domain events based on BIAN

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Core Banking Connectors

Core banking systems handle essential banking operations including deposits, payments, loans, and transactions. Grand Central core connectors provide a secure integration layer that connects digital banking channels to core banking systems using the Grand Central Unified API Specification. This integration streamlines operations and improves scalability. Connect seamlessly with leading core banking systems:

• FIS IBS - Integration with FIS core banking platform
• FiservDNA - Modern core banking for community banks and credit unions
• Jack Henry Symitar - Comprehensive credit union core system
• Mambu - Cloud-native core banking platform
• Oracle FLEXCUBE - Universal banking solution

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Key Capabilities

Customer information and Know Your Customer (KYC)

• Unified profiles: Create and manage customer profiles from a central point
• Real-time updates: Update customer details such as email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses to ensure data accuracy across multiple systems

Account management

• Dynamic account creation: Open, update, and close savings, current, and loan accounts directly through the API to launch new products faster
• On-demand access: Retrieve account balances, statements, and account details instantly when customers need them
• Lifecycle control: Manage account statuses through stages like pending, approved, active, and closed
• Corporate security: Efficiently manage roles and rights by linking organizations to individuals

Payments and transactions

• Fund movement: Process standard fund transfers and internal bank transfers
• Complete visibility: Retrieve comprehensive transaction histories for customer support, auditing, or financial analysis

Lending and credit

• Loan origination and management: Create, disburse, and manage loan products
• Automated management: Schedule and track EMIs and interest accruals automatically
• Enhanced customer options: Enable customers to apply for credit limit increases or overdraft protection

Deposit account management

• Diverse product offerings: Open and manage fixed deposits and recurring deposits
• Automated lifecycle: Set maturity instructions, calculate interest automatically, and process withdrawals or renewals

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Payment Connectors

Grand Central payment connectors enable financial institutions to integrate with various third-party payment processors, offering a standardized interface for initiating and managing payments. Available payment connectors:

• Alacriti - US payment schemes including Fedwire, FedNow, RTP, and ACH
• Oracle FLEXCUBE OBPM - UK payment schemes including Faster Payments and International payments

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Key Features

Initiate payments

• One-time payments
• Recurring payments
• Account-to-Account (A2A) transfers
• Batch payments
• Business-to-Business (B2B) transfers
• Consumer payments (C2B, B2C)
• Payroll and employee reimbursements

Payment management

• Real-time payment status updates through synchronous APIs and asynchronous webhook notifications
• Cancel scheduled payments before processing
• Modify payment instructions for pending payments
• Validate payment dates against bank holiday calendars

Enhanced capabilities

• Retrieve bank details for payment accuracy
• Get real-time fee estimates for cross-border payments
• Validate recipient account details for ACH payments
• Manage direct debit mandates

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CRM Connectors

Connect with leading CRM platforms to synchronize customer data and enhance customer relationship management capabilities. Available CRM connectors:

• Salesforce - Industry-leading CRM platform
• Microsoft Dataverse - Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM data platform

These connectors enable retrieval and update of party information including email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses, ensuring real-time synchronization and data management.

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Fraud Detection Connectors

Integrate advanced fraud detection and prevention solutions to protect your banking operations and customers. Available fraud detection connectors:

• BioCatch - Account takeover fraud prevention using behavioral biometrics
• Feedzai - AI-powered risk assessment and fraud detection
• CardBase - Debit and credit card management system

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BioCatch Features

• Analyzes unique physical and cognitive digital behavior during online sessions
• Monitors typing patterns, mouse movements, swipes, taps, and device interactions
• Returns risk scores (0-1000) indicating likelihood of account takeover attempts
• Collects device information and location data to detect irregularities

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Feedzai Features

• Real-time behavioral and device intelligence data collection
• AI and machine learning capabilities for instant risk score generation
• Detects botnets, RATs, and unusual user behavior patterns
• Device intelligence data captures unknown devices, unusual locations, or VPN usage

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Identity Verification Connectors

Connect with identity verification and authentication services to ensure secure and compliant customer onboarding. Available identity verification connectors:

• Onfido - Comprehensive identity verification with document capture and biometric verification
• Prove - Mobile-based identity verification and authentication
• Smarty - Address verification and autocomplete services
• SurePay - UK Confirmation of Payee (CoP) services

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Key Capabilities

Onfido IDV

• Document capture and verification
• Biometric facial verification
• Data extraction using OCR technology
• Fraud detection with Atlas™ AI
• Instant verification decisions with comprehensive reports

Prove

• Auto-fill personal information using trusted data sources
• Phone number reliability verification with Trust Score (0-1000)
• Validate user’s manually entered data with match scores

Smarty

• Address search and autocomplete with fuzzy logic
• US address enrichment with street address metadata
• International address support
• USPS database verification for US addresses

SurePay

• Real-time verification of payee information
• UK Confirmation of Payee (CoP) compliance
• Account detail verification before payment initiation
• Reduces fraudulent activity and enhances transaction security