The Bank of Khyber (BoK) has entered into a strategic partnership with Eastnets, a global leader in compliance and payment solutions, to overhaul its domestic and cross-border payments infrastructure. This collaboration marks a major step in BoK’s ongoing digital transformation journey and aligns the bank with cutting-edge global financial technology standards.
The partnership was officially cemented in a signing ceremony where Mr. Amin Sajid, Group Head of Operations and Support at BoK, and Mr. Khalil Sharawneh, Director of Sales and Operations at Eastnets, signed the agreement. Also in attendance were key executives from both institutions, including Mr. Salman Ahmed Usmani, Group Head of Treasury & Investment Banking at BoK, and Mr. Shaikh Mashhood Rahman, BoK’s Chief Information Officer.
This initiative is set to elevate BoK’s payment capabilities by integrating Eastnets’ advanced financial messaging and compliance solutions. The goal is to ensure secure, seamless, and efficient processing of both domestic and international payments, while maintaining full compliance with evolving global regulatory standards. Eastnets brings its expertise as a trusted partner of SWIFT and numerous financial institutions worldwide, offering a technological backbone that ensures operational integrity and high performance.
The move also represents a proactive response to Pakistan’s ongoing digital finance modernization. By adopting SWIFT’s Cross-Border Payments and Reporting Plus (CBPR+) and aligning with the State Bank of Pakistan’s Automated Transfer System (ATS) and Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) frameworks, BoK is positioning itself as a forward-thinking institution in the country’s banking sector. These integrations not only streamline operations but also improve transparency, traceability, and settlement speed in both domestic and international financial transactions.
Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Amin Sajid commented, “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to innovation and excellence in financial services. By adopting SWIFT CBPR+ and aligning with SBP’s ATS RTGS framework, we are enhancing our operational capabilities and playing a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem.”
BoK’s collaboration with Eastnets will also likely lead to improvements in customer experience. Faster payment processing, higher security standards, and international interoperability are essential features in today’s financial environment, especially for banks operating in an increasingly globalized economy. With the rise of fintech players and shifting customer expectations, traditional banks must evolve to offer technologically advanced and compliant financial services.
Eastnets’ role in this transformation goes beyond implementation. The firm is known for delivering customized and scalable compliance and transaction management tools that adapt to an organization’s existing infrastructure. This ensures that the digital shift for BoK is not only smooth but also sustainable in the long term.
This partnership signals a broader trend within the banking industry toward digital-first strategies, especially in regions like Pakistan where digital financial inclusion is rapidly gaining momentum. By modernizing its core infrastructure with internationally recognized solutions, BoK is paving the way for enhanced efficiency, security, and competitiveness in the financial sector.
As the financial services landscape continues to shift under the influence of digital innovation, the collaboration between BoK and Eastnets stands out as a model for how legacy institutions can embrace change while upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and customer trust.