ICT the Nordic Way and European Savings Banks

Maixe-Altes, J. Carles (2014): ICT the Nordic Way and European Savings Banks.

Abstract

This paper discusses the world industry of savings banks, a genuine world collaborative consortium, through which, from the 1950s, the International Savings Banks Institute (nowadays, the World Savings Banks Institute and European Savings Banks Group) was highly active in introducing ICT to retail banking. In this environment, Nordic savings banks, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, their Central Savings Banks and their industry associations occupied a separate place in European movements around developments of computerization and automation in retail financial services. The synergies in Nordic countries were superior to the rest of Europe and collaboration was intense. This paper highlights the leadership and the influence that the ICT development models of Nordic savings banks had on their European retail banking associates.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: computers, savings banks collaboration, retail banking, Europe, Nordic countries, technological change
• Subjects: G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G21 - Banks ; Depository Institutions ; Micro Finance Institutions ; Mortgages; N - Economic History > N2 - Financial Markets and Institutions > N24 - Europe: 1913-; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences ; Diffusion Processes

References

1. Alberts, G.: Appropriating America: Americanization in the History of European Computing. Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE, 32(2), 4-7 (2010)

2. Batiz-Lazo, B., & Maixé-Altés, J. C.: Organizational Change and the Computerization of British and Spanish Savings Banks, circa 1950–1985. In: Batiz-Lazo, B., Maixé Altés, J.C. and Thomes, P. (eds.), vol. 20, pp. 137-154. Routledge, New York, London (2011)

3. Bjerke, B.: Dinamic Balance-Shit Planning. 5th Conference on Automation, ISBI, Vienna (1971)

4. Cortada, J. W.: The Digital Hand. How Computers Changed the Work of American Financial, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment Industries. Oxford, New York , Oxford University Press (2006)

5. Eglash, R., Croissant, J. L., di Chiro, G. et al. (eds.): Appropriating technology: vernacular science and social power. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis (2004)

6. Forsell, A.: Moderna tider i sparbanken: Om organisatorisk omvandling i ett institutionellt perspektiv. Nerenius & Santérus förlag, Stockholm (2002)

7. Impagliazzo, J., Lundin, P., Wangler, B. (eds.): History of Nordic computing 3. IFIP AICT, vol. 350. Springer, New York (2011)

8. Impagliazzo, J., Jäervi, T., Paju, P. (eds.): History of Nordic computing 2. IFIP AICT, vol. 303. Springer, Berlin (2009)

9. ISBI: International Savings Bank Directory. International Savings Bank Institute, Amsterdam (1987)

10. ISBI: Members Report. Business Organization and Automation Committee, International Savings Banks Institute, Amsterdam (1983-04-20, BA-293) (1983)

11. ISBI: Minutes of the 17th Meeting of the Business Organization and Automation Committee. BOAC, International Savings Bank Institute, Stockholm (1978)

12. ISBI: Minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Business Organization and Automation Committee. International Savings Bank Institute, Bonn (BA-105, 1975-06-27) (1975)

13. ISBI: Central Information System in Savings Banks. Results of an Investigation. International Savings Banks Institute, Geneva (1972.)

14. ISBI: Press release, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, 9 May 1972, (1972a)

15. ISBI: Datasaab's Terminal System, Technical Specifications. Geneva, International Savings Banks Institute (1972b)

16. ISBI: Terminal Project Working Group. Report about Terminal Project. Business Organization and Automation Committee, International Savings Banks Institute, Geneva, 31 October 1972 (BA-41, 1972-10-31) (1972c)

17. ISBI: Automation in Savings Banks. Situation Report at the Beginnning of 1969. Results of an Investigation. International Savings Bank Institute, Amsterdam (mimeo) (1969a)

18. ISBI: Compte Rendu, 4e. Conference Internationale d’Automation. International Savings Banks Institute, Sitges (Barcelona) (1969b)

19. ISBI: Minutes of the 11th Meeting of Study Group on Automation. International Savings Banks Institute, Copenhagen (1968a)

20. ISBI: Report, The Cost of Data Transmission, Beginning 1968. International Savings Banks Institute, Amsterdam (mimeo) (1968b)

21. Knutsson, B. (ed.): Bits & Bytes ur Datasaabs historia, Tema Bank. Datasaabs Vänner, Linköping (1996)

22. Lacity, M. C., & Hirschheim, R.: The Information-Systems Outsourcing Bandwagon. Sloan Management Review, 35(1), 73-86 (1993)

23. Larsen, P. E.: Savings Banks Collaboration in Scandinavia. Business Organization and Automation Committee, ISBI, Geneve (1972)

24. Larsen, P. E.: EDP Cooperation between Nordic Countries. 5th Conference on Automation, ISBI, Vienna 9-10 November 1971 (1971)

25. Lundin, P.: Computer in swedish society. documenting early use and trends. Springer-Verlag, London (2012)

26. Maixé-Altés, J. C.: The Technological Option of Spanish Savings Banks before the Internet, Circa 1950-1995. Investigaciones de Historia Económica-Economic History Research, 9(3), 175-186 (2013)

27. Maixé-Altés, J. C.: Innovación y compromiso social. 60 años de informatización y crecimiento, 1950-2011[Innovation and Social Compromise. 60 years of computers and Growth, “la Caixa”, 1950-2011], p. 265. Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona - Edicions 62, Barcelona (2012)

28. Martin, I.: Too Far Ahead of its Time: Barclays, Burroughs, and Real-Time Banking. Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE, 34(2), 5-19 (2012)

29. Mellbring, R.: Nordiska Terminalprojektet. Tekniskt Genombrott Inom Bankvärlden. Datasaabs Vänners Medlemsblad, 13, 8-14 (2006)

30. Mellbring, R.: D5/20 – minidator och terminaldato. In: Knutsson, B. (ed.) Bits & Bytes ur Datasaabs historia, Tema Bank, pp. 30-32. Datasaabs Vänner, Linköping (1996)

31. Nolan, M.: Visions of modernity: American business and the modernization of germany. Oxford University Press, New York (1994)

32. Paju, P.: National Projects and International Users: Finland and Early European Computerization. Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE, 30(4),77-91 (2008)

33. Petersson, T.: Facit and the BESK Boys: Sweden's Computer Industry (1956-1962). Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE, 27(4), 23-30 (2005)

34. Revell, J.: The future of savings banks. A study of spain and the rest of europe. Research Papers in Banking and Finance. Institute of European Finance, University College of North Wales, Bangor (1989)

35. Rimvall, P. O.: EDP Services Ofered to Business Customers by Commercial Banks and Savings Banks. 5th Conference on Automation, ISBI, Vienna 9-10 November 1971 (1971)

36. SAC: Report to the ISBI. Sparbankernas Arkitektkontor Och Centralupphandling AB [Architects' Office & Central Purchaing Department of the Swedish Savings Banks, SAC]. ISBI, Stockholm, 7 November 1972 (ISBI BA-44) (1972)

37. Thodenius, B., Batiz-Lazo, B., Karlsson, T.: The History of the Swedish ATM: Sparframjandet and Metior. In: Impagliazzo, J., Lundin, P., Wangler, B. (eds.): History of Nordic computing 3. IFIP AICT, vol. 350, pp. 92-100. Springer, New York (2011)

38. Wentzel, V.: Bits & Bytes ur Datasaabs historia, Tema D21. Datasaabs Vänner, Linköping (1994)

39. Wild, R.: Report about Terminals. 5th Conference on Automation, ISBI, Vienna 9-10 November (1971)

40. Yates, J.: Structuring the information age : Life insurance and technology in the twentieth century. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Md. ; London (2005)