Frances BANQUE POPULAIRE GROUP Uses Fair Isaac Rules Management Technology

BANQUE POPULAIRE GROUP, one of Frances top five banking groups, has implemented Fair Isaac Blaze Advisor rules management technology as a key part of its Basel Capital Accord (Basel II) compliance strategy. The adoption of Blaze Advisor allows BANQUE POPULAIRE GROUP to rapidly configure, deploy and maintain business rules as decision-making components in its automated applications. Specifically, the Group utilizes Fair Isaacs advanced rules management software to develop effective risk management processes for calculating capital requirements and performing data quality assurance for its consumer and business portfolios. Nineteen of Banque Populaire Groups 23 member retail banks have chosen to implement the Blaze Advisor-based solution to prepare for compliance with the Accords capital requirements. Blaze Advisor brings measured, real ROI to BANQUE POPULAIRE GROUP by allowing greater business agility, lower programming costs, easier maintenance, more visibility into and control over how business decisions are being made, and better consistency in carrying out the best actions for any business condition. The Group estimates that the adoption of Fair Isaacs rules management technology has helped cut programming time by 30 percent during the development phase of the project compared to conventional programming approaches. Blaze Advisor also is expected to reduce programming time for future updates and maintenance by 50 to 75 percent. Basel II, developed to enhance the stability of global financial systems, redefines the methodology institutions use for calculating capital reserves, making these calculations more sensitive to risk. Credit grantors like Banque Populaire are actively preparing now for the January 1, 2007 implementation deadline, when the Accord is set to go into effect. The implementation of best practice credit and operational risk management techniques will play a key role in helping lenders achieve competitive advantages in capital calculations and requirements.