SWIFT's cloud-based connectivity Alliance Lite2 adopted by 300 customers

That's across the globe over the past year.

SWIFT, the financial messaging provider for more than 10,000 financial institutions and corporations in 212 countries, announced at Sibos that its cloud-based connectivity, Alliance Lite2, has been adopted by more than 300 customers globally over the past 12 months.

The simplest, easiest way to connect to SWIFT, Alliance Lite2 has quickly become the interface of choice for new SWIFT customers. SWIFT has recently expanded Alliance Lite2’s integration proficiency with business applications by adding powerful new message transformation capabilities, and has made it available for use in virtualised environments, further increasing its appeal for corporate customers.

Alliance Lite2 supports all SWIFT message formats, standards and file types, as well as automated and manual exchange of messages and files. It also provides access to other services offered over the SWIFT network, including Accord Matching, Sanctions Screening, SWIFTRef and Trade Services Utility (TSU), as well as services from third parties such as Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) systems. Alliance Lite2 is a cloud-based service, meaning customers do not need to install or maintain extensive software or hardware at their site. Connection occurs via the Internet or a virtual private network (VPN).

Javier Pérez-Tasso, Head of Marketing at SWIFT, says: “Connecting to SWIFT via Alliance Lite2 opens up a world of possibilities for a customer to do business; making it simpler and easier to connect without the need for extensive upfront investment. Since its inception, we have seen more than 300 customers worldwide, made up of corporates, banks, securities players and other financial institutions, adopt the solution. Alliance Lite2 is part of our strategy to expand connectivity options and make SWIFT more readily available to a wide customer base.”

SWIFT customers using another form of connectivity can also benefit from SWIFT’s cloud-based technology. SWIFT recently launched Alliance Lifeline – a cost effective cloud service that enables users to keep on using SWIFT even if their standard connection becomes unavailable. Managed and operated by SWIFT, Alliance Lifeline includes a user interface, SWIFT connection and related services.

Joel Jacobson, Chief Technical Officer, Trustly Group AB, a Swedish Payment Institute, says: “Thanks to Alliance Lite2, Trustly now automatically receives bank statements in MT 940 format for all its bank accounts from more than 30 banks worldwide. Exactly one month after we joined SWIFT, Trustly was activated on the network. It has been great working with such a comprehensive service that enables rapid, smooth connection and onboarding to SWIFT.”

Dinku Kassaye, Director, Information Systems Department at Enat Bank S.C, says: “Alliance Lite2 makes it simple, easy and affordable for financial institutions to connect to and use SWIFT. As the SWIFT User Group Chairperson for Ethiopia, I am concerned with how connectivity can be made easier, and Alliance Lite2 allows us to connect by Internet, which is a big positive.”