A prominent government-owned financial institution in the Caribbean, known for delivering essential banking services to both retail and commercial clients, recently embarked on a strategic IT transformation. With a strong presence in the region and a high-ranking position among the top two banks locally, the institution faced a critical need to expand computing capacity to support quality assurance (QA) and development environments for its heavily customized IBM i application. However, its existing on-premises Power infrastructure was nearing end-of-life.
Rather than reinvest in physical hardware, the bank sought a modern, cloud-based solution that would deliver the flexibility, scalability, and financial advantages of an operational expense (Opex) model - aligned with its broader cloud-first strategy.
Business Challenge
With increasing demands on QA and development environments, the bank needed to expand its computing capacity without the burden of managing new on-prem infrastructure. The goal was to modernize in a way that would ensure high performance while embracing cloud agility and cost efficiency.
Solution: IBM Power Virtual Server
In collaboration with IBM’s exclusive regional partner, the bank adopted IBM Power Virtual Server as its cloud platform of choice. This solution enabled the bank to migrate mission-critical workloads to a secure, scalable environment without the need for reinvestment in physical infrastructure. The as-a-service model provided flexibility to scale resources up or down based on workload demands while converting infrastructure costs from Capex to Opex.
Key Benefits
- Scalable Capacity – Seamlessly expanded computing capacity to meet the needs of QA and development environments, supporting future growth.
- Cloud-Based Resilience – Transitioned to a secure, fully supported cloud platform, ensuring stability for its core applications.
- Cost Optimization – Shifted to an Opex model, enabling more predictable budgeting and avoiding large upfront investments.
Why IBM Was Selected
IBM stood apart by delivering true public cloud capabilities, flexible scaling, and fast response times. A proof of concept, executed in partnership with the regional IBM partner, demonstrated the value and feasibility of the solution. The partner also assumed ongoing management of the cloud environment, allowing the bank to focus on its mission of providing high-quality financial services.
Conclusion
Through its transition to IBM Power Virtual Server, this leading Caribbean bank modernized its IT infrastructure, supported future growth, and strengthened its cloud-first strategy. The collaboration with IBM and its regional partner proved instrumental in delivering a secure, scalable, and cost-effective solution - positioning the bank as a digital leader in its financial ecosystem.