Heston Financial Systems (HFS) has been in existence for over a decade and was formed as a natural progression out of its training and IT services divisions allied to the supply of new born technologists required in the upgrading of financial systems for the banking industry in The Arabian Gulf.
 

Led by an accomplished Senior Systems and Operations Manager with a strong technical background and a solid record of achievement in the development, implementation and management of systems for banking and financial services, HFS contributes at management and board level in the building of systems from scratch and as added value to the overall project through to commissioning, maintenance and training in the agreed and usually unique implementation of its mandate particularly in reliability, team building and client satisfaction.


Confidentiality is key in our agreements with our clients however below demonstrates a selection of the projects we have been involved in throughout the region:
 

• From scratch, established and developed a national EFTPOS Switch and Automated Clearing House for the Bahrain banking community handling local bank ATM and retail POS transactions and including a Disaster Recovery facility

• Successfully implemented and managed the Systems and Operations of the Kuwait National EFTPOS Switch (KNET), from its inception, to the point where it became a role model for a number of similar operations in other countries throughout the Middle East.

• Managed the automation of systems for a major bank in Kuwait from a completely manual operation to the point where the system and the bank became the recognised leader in the implementation of banking technology throughout the Middle East region and is used as a blue print within the industry.

• Enhanced the facility to interface to the GCCNET regional ATM switch and to process local utility company bill payments.

• Negotiated and implemented facility for a major American charge and credit card company to become their regional ATM switch.

• Designed and wrote the Operating Regulations and Technical Specifications for the KNET National EFTPOS Switch including the financial settlement model.

• Implemented and customised the Banks’ national Switch system (TANDEM/Base24)

• Planned and implemented Disaster Recovery facilities for the Switch and associated network.

• Designed the functionality of the banks’ shared ATM network.

• Implemented the national Point Of Sale system, customised to local bank requirements.

• Designed and produced the specification for the GCC Central Bank’s regional ATM sharing scheme (GCCNET), including both Technical Specifications and Operating Regulations.

• Designed and implemented a national Direct Debit scheme as the first step in the establishment of the Automated Clearing House. Subsequently developed proposal to take over and enhance the national cheque clearing operation.

• Instrumental in the establishment off the legal basis and operational structure of the national Credit Reference Bureau.

• Implemented the expansion of a Bank Card Centre for a major Qatar bank including the following:

- Staffing

- Introduction of debit cards

- Expansion into the Merchant Acquiring business

- Selection and installation of a POS network

- Evaluation and selection of suitable card processing hardware/software

- Introduction of an on-line link to VISA, London (MIP/PC).

- Establishment of standby card authorisation facilities.

• Planning and selection of telephone banking systems

We welcome organisations who require an innovative approach to their objectives particularly in exploration and concept using HFS as a sounding board in consulting advice, study and feasibility, installation and commissioning with full local support in the management and maintenance of the project with training and knowledge management upper most in project satisfaction and completion.

A strategic and planning motivation at client board level with an ever watchful eye on funding and budget control creates a well managed project and as importantly being aware of up to date systems and state of the art technology and the implementation of the technology into user friendly systems to the satisfaction of our clients and their customers.

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