ME Bank set out to transform from a branch-based institution with a limited product range into a fully digital bank offering a broad portfolio of simple, competitive products. The new leadership team wanted to replicate an architecture-led approach that had previously demonstrated strong potential but had not been fully realised in a prior organisation. To succeed, they needed a proven method to guide technology decisions, ensure alignment with strategic goals, and support the scale and pace required for a complete digital transformation.
What Prompted Change?
The shift in leadership brought a renewed strategic vision, moving away from a branch-based service model towards becoming a digital-first bank with a wider, more competitive product offering. Achieving this transformation required more than new products and channels; it demanded a strong architectural foundation to ensure technology could scale, integrate, and adapt in line with strategic goals. The leadership team sought to implement an architecture approach with a proven track record, giving them confidence that the transformation would be delivered efficiently, consistently, and with long-term sustainability in mind.
Strategy in Action
Fragile to Agile was engaged to help revitalise the bank’s technology landscape in support of ambitious growth targets. Working closely with senior stakeholders, we designed a digital transformation program that set out a fully developed target state architecture and a supporting technology roadmap. This conceptual design included comprehensive estimates for both cost and delivery timelines, enabling informed decision-making by the executive and board.
Following program approval, Fragile to Agile continued to provide architecture leadership and program oversight. We ensured that all technology solutions adhered to agreed architecture principles and designs, maintaining alignment with strategic objectives and providing assurance to senior leadership through to program completion.
“As CIO of ME Bank I was engaged to execute on their Technology Transformation roadmap and it was a dream come true to walk into the quality of work completed by Fragile to Agile to prepare the program for execution. The Fragile to Agile methodology is second to none, their systematic approach and ability to maintain integrity of scope is the foundation of success.
The success of the Transformation of ME Bank into the Digital Era was predicated on the brilliant work completed by Fragile to Agile in the assessment current stage, design of future state, and the creation of an executable road map; a roadmap that stood firm through 4 years of execution. Fragile to Agile worked closely with us through the entire execution to assist with maintaining scope and ensuring our delivery."
Kathryn Hawkins, Former Chief Information Officer
Delivering Meaningful Impact
The digital transformation program was delivered with less than 2% variance in time and 10% in budget, a result attributed to strong IT leadership and the accuracy of the conceptual design process. The transformation enabled the customer base to double and assets to grow by 50%, supported by measurable improvements across core banking operations.
Straight-through processing for deposit account openings rose from zero to 95%, while the time to issue a home loan letter of offer was cut from three hours to just seconds. Data rekeying effort was reduced by 75%, and system-based conditional approvals for home loans increased from zero to 50%, with total approval time reduced from three days to three minutes. The time to market for new products dropped from twelve months to three.
The program not only delivered on strategic and operational goals but was also recognised with multiple industry awards for excellence in enterprise architecture and customer-driven business transformation.
