Software Review of Bankers Realm (Version 3.0)

Publication Date: Oct 2005
Published by: CGAP Technology Resource Center
Document Type: Other (PDF)

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Review of institutional fit, cost, implementation sites, and pros and cons of Bankers Realm 3.0 software

This review provides an overview of the software Bankers Realm 3.0, developed by Craft Silicon. The general features of the software are:

• Is suitable for large microfinance institutions with bank-type operations;
• Provides the full range of microfinance services, including loans, deposits, accounting, fixed assets, and payroll;
• Requires assistance from the developer for installation and configuration process.

As per the paper the prominent advantages and disadvantages of the software are:

• Advantages:
  • Among the broadest functional coverage on the market;
  • Optional technology interfaces such as Automated Teller Machine (ATM);
  • Capacity to cater to on-line and off-line branches.
• Disadvantages:
  • Feature-rich screens might confuse new users;
  • Some basic features, such as shares and money transfers, are missing.

The paper rates the software on a scale of one to four stars, with four stars denoting the best performance. The rating of the software is:

• Four stars (best) on functionality;
• Three stars on the parameters - ease of use; management reporting; services; technical capabilities.

The software is available in two separately priced packages:

• Bankers Realm (BR) for bank type institutions at USD 55,000;
• Bankers Realm Microfinance Organization (BR MFO) at USD 25,000.

Indian and Kenya are the development centers for the software. Thirty-eight institutions across ten countries have installed it. Ninety-five percent of the installations are in Sub-Saharan Africa.