UBL UK selects Aquila to replace manual, file-based Swift payment processes with automated validation, API connectivity and near real-time processing
London, 2026: Aqua Global, the financial messaging expert, today announced that UBL UK has selected its Aquila platform to support the bank’s digital transformation programme, as it sets out to achieve ambitious growth targets.
Aquila’s multi-channel messaging solution will help to modernise the payments and reconciliation infrastructure surrounding UBL’s new core banking environment, replacing manual, file-based Swift processes with API-first connectivity, automated IBAN and BIC validation, and near real-time payment processing.
With Aquila, UBL UK will be able to:
- Modernise payments and reconciliation: Bring messaging, payments and reconciliation onto a single platform that can scale with the bank’s growth.
- Reduce operational risk: Replace manual, file-based Swift processes with API-driven connectivity and automated validation of IBANs and BICs, helping to reduce errors, missed cut-off times and associated penalties.
- Support an API-first banking model: Enable faster, more automated information flows between systems, laying the groundwork for future customer experience improvements as UBL UK expands its digital banking capabilities.
- Navigate transformation with added assurance: Benefit from Aqua’s Proactive Infrastructure Managed Service during the first year of operation, providing monitoring and support as the bank moves through a significant technology change programme.
“When we made the decision to move away from our current core banking solution to Essence, an API-first platform, modernising payments and reconciliation was a key part of the project,” said Sayful Ahmed, Head of IT at UBL UK. “We process around 100,000 payments each year, so we needed infrastructure that could support us as we scale through greater automation, resilience and control. Having worked with Aqua for more than a decade, we did not need to look any further. Moving from E2Gen to Aquila was the natural choice.”
The deployment builds on a long-standing relationship that has seen Aqua support UBL UK through major regulatory transitions, including the bank’s migration to ISO 20022.
UBL UK provides a wide range of personal and business banking services, specialising in savings, mortgages and international money transfers. Given its customer base spans personal banking, business banking, real estate lending, , treasury and money transmission services – including customers sending money internationally – reliable and efficient Swift connectivity is a particularly important part of its operational infrastructure.
“Upgrading to ISO 20022 was a major undertaking and we leaned heavily on Aqua to help us through it,” Sayful adds. “It made a huge difference knowing the team was always on hand to support us. Everyone we speak to at Aqua is very knowledgeable about the industry and knows the product inside out. Also, the proactive monitoring service gives us added confidence during a period of significant change. For a small bank, having that level of expertise and support behind us is incredibly valuable.”
“Core banking transformation does not stop at the core,” said Cian Fernando, CEO at Aqua Global. “To realise the full value of an API-first banking environment, banks need payments, messaging and reconciliation infrastructure that can move at the same pace. UBL UK’s migration to Aquila shows how banks can modernise the critical last mile of payments, reduce operational risk and create a more scalable foundation for growth.”
About Aqua Global
For over 43 years, Aqua Global has delivered a robust suite of financial messaging and transaction automation solutions for payments, treasury, and securities processing that integrate internal systems to external services. Trusted by leading banks across 22+ countries, our Aquila orchestration and integration framework offers exceptional performance, control, and scalability. For more information, please visit aquaglobal.co.uk and connect on LinkedIn.
About UB
Established in 2001, UBL UK is a UK-regulated bank offering personal and business banking services including savings accounts, international money transfers, residential real estate mortgages and treasury services. With a customer base spanning personal banking, business banking, trade finance and money transmission, UBL UK specialises in serving customers with international financial needs. For more information, please visit ubluk.com.
