CHAPTER ONE

1.0

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

It is well over three decades now since computer technology has been introduced into banking operations. Then as the banking habits developed, more and more people began to write cheques, banks had to develop way of processing the large volume of cheques being handled in the system. This led to the development of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MCR) system and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to speed up and facilitate the processing of cheques. Before the advent of computer technology virtually all transactions within a bank were manually effected. The opening and closing of customers accounts, cash payments, and withdrawals were manually implanted. This caused quite a number of hours unavoidably wasted. It was a source of discouragement to bank customers who felt the time unnecessarily wasted in banks could be put into more useful things. However, the continued growth and expansions of the banking industry as well as the advancements in technology soon yielded a new innovation to the industry. The conception of electronic banking policy was to become a new way of life in the banking environment. In recent years electronic banking technology has been introduced and has gone through series of modification. High-tech transactions such as electronic fund transfer, automated cash lodgment and remote-access banking are new areas which is fast gaining practicability and acceptability. The credit cards were introduced into banking as a way of reducing the need to carry large amount of cash around. Banks had to find ways and possible means of minimizing losses arising from their operations without reducing its acceptability of
1

effectiveness. This led to the development of large computer system with large database which could be assessed from various points within and outside the banking premises. Automated teller machines or cash dispenser is also a new innovation to further reduce the possibilities of customers carrying around large amount of cash and making it possible for the customers to obtain cash outside normal banking hours. The credit card and automated teller machine naturally helped in developing the banking habit but as more and more people became bank customers in order to be able to enjoy these facilities the banks themselves submerged in paper and the amount of paper to be processed became a very serious problem. The banks became aware that not only must they reduce the need to carry cash around, but must also reduce the need to write cheques and other vouchers.

1.1

PROBLEM DEFINITION

Banks now constantly search for ways of meeting with the needs and aspirations of their customers without prejudice to their survival. Customers satisfaction is also profit motivated. Having recognized above problem, therefore, there is the need to design and implement a web server application that links all branches and afford the customers the opportunity to open, enquire and validate their accounts anywhere, anytime at the comfort of their Home.

1.2

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of this research are to design and implement a functional web based banking solution for the operational unit (customer service unit) of first bank of Nig. Plc.

The On-line system is to achieve the following:       1.3 Prepare account summary (statement of accounts) Funds transfer Validate/update account On-line cheques request/honor Bill payment Enquire account status RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A system cannot be fully understood if the methodology is not properly stated and information relating to it established. The scope being the design of a web based solution in providing electronic banking services for First Bank of Nig. Plc. The following techniques were employed: Record Inspection These include manual of operation, annual general meeting reports, forms and other relevant materials, details of used forms, physical flow of data were collected as means of effectively capturing the real processes involved.

Interviews Series of discussions were held with the personnel of the bank. This availed me a better understanding of the shortcomings of the existing system. Observation Physical involvement was also employed to ascertain the original and destination of data. How data is captured, processed and the possible output. 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This project will be limited to an aspect of theories, practices and principles of electronic banking. 1.5 PROJECT ORGANIZATION

Chapter one presents a description of the overall project. It emphasized the concept of electronic banking system, definition, objectives of the project, or what the solution is going to do, scope of the study and fact finding techniques used. Chapter two gives a concise review of related literature. Activities of the operations unit of the bank under study, electronic banking services, internet baking application and the definition of terms. Forms of data analysis of the proposed system is emphasized in chapter three, system requirements, program design as it relates to the output requirements which is the report to be generated from file stored in the database and the format with which it shall be generated. The input requirement and database design which reveals a table format of the file the proposed solution will utilize. The software and hardware requirements. Chapter four
4

is all about choice of programming language used for effective implementation of the proposed system. Program documentation and implementation review. Chapter five concludes the entire project, reflecting experience and limitations of proposed system.

1.6

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Homepage This is an entry page for a set of web pages, and other files in a website on the worldwide web. The homepage is displayed by default when a user surfs to the site via the Internet Explorer web browser. Hypertext Markup language This is the standard markup language used for documents on the www. It uses tags to indicate how web browser should display page elements such as text and graphics and how it should react to users actions such as hyperlink activation by means of a key press. Hyperlink: Point from a page, a picture or graphics, image map to a page or a file on the www. Primary way to navigate between pages and among website, hypertext jumps are called hyperlinks. Unified Resources Locator (URL): This is a string that supplies the internet address of a website or resources on the worldwide along with the protocol by which the site or resources is accessed. Local Area Network (LAN): This is a computer network technology that is designed to connect computers separated by short distance. LAN can be connected to Internet or configure as an Internet.
5

Wide Area Network (WAN): This is a computer network that spans long distances and uses specialized computers to connect smaller networks.

World Wide Web (WWW): Total set of interlinked hypertexts documents residing on HTTP services all over the world. Documents on the web are written in HTML and are called web pages.

The Domain Name System: It is a system used to give names by giving different groups responsibility for subsets of the names. Each level is a domain and separated by periods.

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 THE NIGERIAN BANKING SYSTEM

The banking industry in Nigeria has been a central focus amongst the financial institutions in that; it forms the bedrock and sustenance of any kind of business venture. The Nigerian Banking System is a structural configuration of the banking institutions and is comprised of the following:      The Central Banks The Commercial Banks The Merchant Banks The Development Banks The Peoples Banks

The banking organization operates in a networking fashion. There often exists, a central coordinating bank (the Head-office) and several geographically dispersed branches. The banks transact businesses with their clients through the various network or branches.

THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

At the apex of the Nigerian Banking System, is the Central Bank (CBN) , it is

established and fully owned by the Federal Government; and it regulates and supervises trading functions of the other banks by ensuring strict compliance with the business ethics in the areas of:
7

    

Capitalization Lending Maintenance of cash and liquidity ratios Criteria for establishing new branch Issuance of financial apparatus e.g. Treasury bills, certificates etc.

The CBN manages the fortunes and debts of the federal government in international monetary bodies such as, the World Bank, the IMF and other related groups. It also the establishment of other specialized financial bodies like the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) while also overseeing the indigenization of the banks and training of manpower for the industry. Other functions of the CBN include the following:   Issuance of legal tender Maintenance of external reserves in order to safeguard the international values of currencies    Promoting monetary stability Sole financial of the Federal governments projects Advising the Federal government on financial matters.

OTHER BANKS IN NIGERIA

i. Commercial Banks: They operate as bankers to the entire people of the

country. Commercial bank services are mostly retail in nature-dealing with large number of customers account which generally includes savings and currents operations. These banks also give out loans on short-time basis in form of overdraft
8

and also provide facilities for cheques transactions, fund transfer between banks, foreign exchange transactions and investment advisory services. ii. Merchant Banks: These started in Nigeria in the early 60s; they provided

wholesale banking services unlike the commercial banks. They often have a very large capital base and mobilize large deposits from individual and corporate investors and deal in small numbers of specialized and high-deposit accounts. Such deposits are usually fixed and bear huge-interest. They provide long-term loan facilities and are also stock-breaking, corporate financial, equipment leasing, export financing and advisory services. iii. Development Banks: The rationale behind their establishment includes:    Acting as catalyst for development Providing an institution which can support long-term lending Conforming to the international trend initiated by the World Bank

The development banks engage in long-term lending; equity participation in other companies; product-appraisal and consumer-satisfaction survey, some of them provide financing in the agricultural sector, others lend towards commerce while some lend financial in housing and structural developments. iv. Peoples Banks: Established by the federal government. Its main objective

was to support indigenous small-scale business ventures by allocating loans to the poor with no requirement for substantial collateral, as in the case in commercial banks.

2.1

ACTIVITIES OF A COMMERCIAL BANK

In Nigeria, commercial banks receive money from customers either on current, saving or term deposits accounts. Current account deposits are liquid to the value of the balances and customers can draw cheques on these will. Savings account holders contrary to theory, in practice can make withdrawals at will without prior notice to the bank. But withdrawals from savings account are personal and not legally effected through third parties. Term deposit accounts are usually negotiated prior to acceptance. In theory owners do not have access to the deposits but in practice they do by being their interests. Funds are advanced to customers in form of loans overdraft, discounted bills and promissory notes especially before the maturity of the bills; they also syndicate loans for their clients.

Apart from the collection of deposit and granting of funds, banks also perform some other functions for their clients in Nigeria. On behalf of customers a bank honors standing payment orders on their accounts, issue drafts, remit funds, collects cheques dividends, coupons and bills and clears these to the credit or debit of its customers. Banks also effect the purchase and sale of securities and undertake the agency of the other local or foreign banks. Banks further act as registers, as trustees and provide safe custody for customers valuables. It manages customers investment and gives advice on insurance matters.

Banks also provide foreign exchange facilities for travelers. They provide night safe facilities for their customers. This type of facilities is for business men or shop owners
10

who close late and instead of taking their money home or leaving in the shop; they takes it to their banks where they are given a Waller which they post with pay in-slip the next day, the proper entries are made and their account credited with the amount. Banks also provide business status reports and references as well as business advisory services for their customers.

2.2

ELECTRONIC BANKING SERVICES

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) This was introduced to reduce queue of customers waiting in the bank, lobbying to cash their personal cheques. With this, customers no longer need to rush to the bank before the close of business or at weekends to obtain cash knowing that they can obtain cash from automatic teller machine even when the bank is closed for business. At the beginning, automatic teller machine plastic card holder could only obtain cash ATM belonging to his banker but now automatic teller machines have been networked such that a customer of bank can obtain cash through an ATM of another bank and the transaction would still be routed to his/her own bank and the appropriate account debited accordingly. The automatic teller machine offers the following:      Check the balance of the A/C Obtaining a point out of recent entries on the account Ordered statement Ordered cheques book Deposit cheques

11

First Bank of Nigeria Plc has made a foray into this field; they opted for through-wallsystem. Credit (Payment) Cards The use of credit card has become so widespread as to affect the technology in banking. Most credit cards issued by financial institutions around the world today belong to one or other of the international networks, via and MasterCard, barleys bank etc. Smart Card The Smartcard was originally designed to reduce enhance on cheque and increases security against fraud. Unlike the automatic teller machine however, a retailer can call for authorization when transaction exceeds the retails. Floor Until a smartcard is a plastic card much like the well known credit card with exception that it has an inbuilt microprocessor which effect turns it into a computer with its own memory. The cardholder carries on his/her card full details of his/account including up-to-date balance. Sol image Machine This is a photographic and signature verification systems that permit the banks to automatically store photography and signature often causes delays at the cashiers end because of the laborious procedures of retrieving the signature cards of the account

12

holders. The new machine makes it possible for the transactions to be made in jiffy and the waiting time reduce considerably. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) This is the transfer of information between points electronically. This tries to reduce the incidence of paper. This paperless transaction have found expressions in such supplications as CAHPS clearing house automatic payment system and BACS bankers automatic clearly system all in UK and SWIFT society for world wide inter-bank financial telecommunication established by 1961 in 15 countries to carry out financial information access national frontiers. Electronic Fund Transfer point of Sale (EFTPOS) This is another terminal service which is still in its early days and yet to gain as much grounds as the ATM. The terminals are located at service points mainly retail outlets. Like ATM, the EFTPOS is activated by card (credit card or debit card in this case) and the transacting information relayed over telephone to the appropriate computer list. MICR Cheques Magnetic ink character recognition is an optical recognition device. The machine has the ability to automatically encode characters on documents read recorded characters, sort documents to various codes. List documents sorted or unsorted proof and reconcile credit/debits, cap0ture all data read, endorse and subsequent document, miens film document and can produce computer types for subsequent computer processing and print reports.

13

Advantages of MICR cheques  Sorting as well as history of clearing system thus banks and their branches will be automated therefore is performed at a gagster rate and result more accurate.  In future, it would be possible for banks head offices to exchange instrument among themselves instead of going through the clearing house.  Each MICR cheque will be coded by the bank, which first received it so as to make automatic banking regular clearly easy. Home Banking (Bank @ home) this is the collective name given to banking service provided to the customer in the comfort of his/her house using the telephone linked to computer. Services provided are:     The current account and book keeping information Bank payment stock market order Update share price worldwide Central banking information

In spite of these innovations, the level of banking technology remains relatively low, on both international standards and local needs. For example, linking of branches of individual banks by computer is absent. Besides only a few bank have embraced technology-based products such as automated teller machines and other forms of electronic banking such as smart cards and electronic wallet. These inadequacies are traceable to a number of factors; first the economy down turns, since the early 1980s and its subsequent sluggish growth has not provided an adequate basis for sustaining technology advancement in the banking sector. Second
14

there have been both low information technology skill and growth of electronic banking. Banking industry like other sectors depends almost entirely on imported technology. There is limitation of their availability, this is because of the high rate of foreign exchange. These have constrained both the importation and widespread application of electronic banking. Third, supporting infrastructure such as electricity and telecommunication that are needed for effective workability of electronic banking has been grossly inadequate. 2.3 INTERNET BANKING

This is the distribution of banking products and services via the internet. This came into operation as a result of the impending financial liberalization and the consequent anticipated increase in actual and potential completion from banks all over the world. Now the world is becoming increasingly open as a result of the internet and World Wide Web (WWW), Internet banking has been gaining ground around the globe. This offers banking institutions a new frontier or opportunities and challenges further augmenting completion in the global banking market. However, the success of this new distribution channel for baking products and services depends on the rate at which the new technology is adopted by the consumers both retail and corporate alike.

15

CHAPTER THREE
SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

3.0

DATA ANALYSIS

All collated information relating to achieving a good design of the system under study are carefully analyzed using data modeling tools. These were employed to reveal the flow of data in the system and determine system requirement. 3.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENT

The new system will aim at improving the techniques of data capture, conversion, transmission and processing. It would aim at improving upon the rate at which information flows within and outside the given system, to eliminate the physical collation and manipulation of data. 3.2 SYSTEM DESIGN

The design phase of the information development involves producing a blue print of how the system will work. Its concerned with requirement specification outlined previously. The phase considered in detail, are the activities such as designing output forms and procedures, planning file access methods and record formats, planning database interfaces, data communications interface, designing system security and control and considering human factors. Activities    Got to site Enter Bank Request services
y y y y y y

Account status New Account open (Sign-up) Issue cheque on-line Transfer cash Pay bill Sign In
16

Got to site

Enter Bank

No Sign Up Sign In

No

Yes Input name, address, Account type etc Input Username & Password

Sign Up successful, Proceed to Sign In No Valid

Yes

Request Services

Exit Bank

Exit Site

Issuing DNS Request

Connecting to machine the site Server

Requesting the Site server

On home Page

Fig 11: State diagram

17

Home

Enter Bank Account Holder Yes Sign In No New Acct. Open (sign up)

Services Page

1 Open Acct. (Sign Up)

2 Cash Transfer

3 Acct. Validation

4 Issue Cheque

5 Bill Payment

6 Sign In

Exit Bank

Exit Site

Fig III: Site Diagram

18

Web Browser

DNS Server

Web server

DB server

Issues DNS request Supplies IP Address

Connecting site/bank server

Requesting site & page

Open page

Supplying Page(s)

Enter bank

Request server

Provides Services Exit Supply Account Related Information

Fig IV: Sequence Diagram

19

3.3

INPUT REQUIREMENT

The input design includes the design of the user input through the on-line screen forms. Data input design involves capturing data which has been identified in the user requirement analysis. This is done via the keyboard and manual inputs data files uses to store data. Other area considering is the quality of data. This is achieved through data validation: thus is the process of ensuring that the qualities of data are checked on entry and appropriate prompts or error message validations are built into the input design.

3.4

INPUT DESIGN

This is the design of an interface element such as onscreen forms, which are used to enter and update information. The medium of entry is via the keyboard and as entries relating to opening of new savings account. Transaction update, interest calculation, printout of daily transaction, closing of accounts are made one of the key elements in input is to ensure that data being entered are validated. This is a process which ensures the quality of data by checking that it has been entered correctly and prompts to user informing them of incorrect data entry. The input screen was designed simply to assist the users who are assumed have little knowledge of computer. The sequence of the field was made to resemble the source document so as to reduce data entry error.

20

INPUT DESIGN FORMS Sign In

User Name Password

Submit Reset

Bill payment

Senders Account # Sender s Names Beneficiarys Names Beneficiarys Acct. #

Bill Amount Date Transfer

Submit Reset

Cash Transfer

Transaction Beneficiarys Names eneficiarys Account # Amount Transfer Senders Names Receivers balance Senders balance Date Transfer

Submit
21

Reset

Issue Cheque

Senders Names Senders Account #

Beneficiarys Names Beneficiarys Acct. # Cheque Amount Secret code Transfer date
Submit Account Validation Reset

Names Address Account type Account number Password Account Balance Open balance Date Open
Submit Reset

22

New Account Registration

Names Address State City Email Country Next of kin Telephone Open Balance Date Open
Submit Reset

3.5

DATABASE DESIGN SPECIFICATION

Activities to be performed by the solutions are:       Creating a New account on-line On-line Account validation On-line cheque issuing On-line bill payment\ On-line cash transfer On-line sign in

Therefore five tables will be created for the activities identified above which on-line Sign In activities will validate using Account Table of the database.
23

1.

Account Table

Assumption: All transactions made must be log in Account Table Names: Address: Account No: Type of Account: Password: Date Open: Account Balance: Open Balance: Text Text Text Numeric Text Text Text Currency Currency

2.

Cash Transfer Table

Assumption: Cash can only be transferred to another account holder of the same bank. Table Cash Transfer sNames: sAcctNum: AmtTransfer bNames: bAcctNum: DateofTransfer: SendersBal: ReciversBal: Transaction: Text Num Currency Text Num Time/Date Currency Currency True/False

24

3.

Issue of Cheque Table

Assumption: The account number will be able to tell the type of acct.

Table Issue Cheque sNames: sAcctNum: AmtIssue: bNames: bAcctNum: DateofTransfer: sCode: Text Num Currency Text Num Time/Date Num

4.

Pay Bill Table

Table Pay Bill sName: sAcctNum: BillAmt: bNames: bAcctNum: DateTransfer: Text Num Currency Text Num Time/Date

5.

Open New Account Table Assumption: unseen Account should be seen null or empty (non -

existing) and open. Table open Acct Names: Address: DateOpen: TypeofAcct: AcctNo: Password: Text Text Date/Time Text Num Text

25

OpenBalance: Country: NextofKin Status: eMail: City: State:

Currency Text Text Text Text Text Text

3.6

OUTPUT DESIGN

The output design specifies how production of onscreen reports will look like. It gives update information about the database file. The major output from the system is the printed or extended report. When the file is queried it generates information or extended report.

26

CHAPTER FOUR
IMPLEMENTATION & DOCUMENTATION

4.0

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

In implementing the new system and new computer designs, the following steps are strictly adhere to: Acquisition of materials: All hardware and software that is needed to create the required new system must be properly acquired.

4.1

SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

The newly proposed system has to be implemented in two major aspects: namely HARDWARE and SOFTWARE. Underneath in the sub-headings are the specifications of their requirements prior to their implementation.

4.2

CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

A program is a set of coded instructions written in computer readable form to solve a particular problem. Hence, it has to be written with the object computer in mind for easy interpretation of what is known as Machine Language of the computer in the form the computer understands that is programming language.

The program itself is written in high level language which is computer language equivalent.

27

The programming language used to develop this system is Visual basic Scripts, Active server Page, and Microsoft Access 2003 as the database for storing the various files used.

Active Server Pages

Active server Pages (SP) is one of the most exciting and interesting Internet technologies ever created by Microsoft. With ASP, developers can build dynamic websites very easily. A script running on the server receives a request from the client and generates a customized HTML page, which will be returned to the client. ASP as available with Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Server). It is available only with the Windows NT operating system. If you are using Windows 98 or 2000, you can use Microsoft Personal Web Server to test your ASP scripts.

Overall Working of an ASP Page

1. 2. 3. 4. Server receives the request for the ASP Page from the client Server loads the ASP Page and executes the Script and HTML in the page. A new HTML page is generated It is then returned to the user and viewed in the browser

Since pure HTML is generated, it obviously works on browsers such as Internet Explorer and Netscape.

How to Write an ASP Page The script in an ASP page can be written by using visual Basic Script, _JavaScript, or _Jscript (or ECMAScript). _Jscript is the Microsoft version of _JavaScript. You
28

should use Notepad or any other text editor to write your code. The most ideal tool for coding ASP is Microsoft visual Interdev. After typing your code, you should save the file with the extension .asp file is automatically saved as a .asp file. (See the end of this Session for more information about this tool).

An ASP page also contains HTML tags. So how will the server distinguishes between ASP script code and HTML tags? It is through the special <%---%> tags, called delimiters. The script within <% ----%> executes on the Web server. The other type of delimiter is <% = ----%>, which is mainly used for output expressions. For example, consider the following script: <%=total%> Here, total is a _VBScript variable. The value of the variable total will be displayed as output.

4.2.1 Microsoft Access

Ms Access database is a collection of data and objects such as tables, queries, or forms that is related to a particular topic or purpose. Its database engine manages the data files or Access project. The access project is an access file that connects to a Microsoft SQL server database and is used to create client/server applications. A project file doesnt contain any data or data definition based objects such as tables and views. An access database stores objects and data in an .mdb file. It is a relational database management system that reliably manages a large amount of data in a multiuser environment so that many users can concurrently access the same data.

All these must be accomplished while delivering high performance to the users of the database. It is also secured from unauthorized access and provide efficient and solutions for failure recovery. It has the following features:
29

Access supports large numbers of concurrent users executing a variety of database applications operating on the same data. It minimizes data contention and guarantee data concurrently.

Large volume turnover: It is able to hold a very large volume of records in a single file, which can be access via SQL. It can also work successfully with windows application.

Cross platform communication enable: Ability to allow several users on different operating system to access the same access database of their requirements prior to their implementation.

4.3

Hardware Requirements

For the functioning of the system in an efficient and effective manner the following hardware specification have to be strictly adhering to.

A computer system configured with IIS running on Microsoft Window XP platform serving as a local server.

An Intel Pentium III processor or equivalent, 600 MHz or faster At least 128MB of available RAM (256MB recommended) At least 40GB available hard disk space.

30

A 16-bit (thousands of colors) monitor capable of 1024 x 768 pixel resolution or better (millions of colors recommended).

i. ii.

A telephone line connection A modem for dialing up to the ISP

4.3.1 Software Requirements

Microsoft Window, NT Server (Advanced Server) / Microsoft Window 98, Window 2000, Windows. NET Server 2003 which is IIS configured.

Microsoft FrontPage or macromedia Dreamweaver application software Microsoft Access 2000 / SQL Server / Oracle Package.

4.4

SYSTEM SECURITY

The system security and controls is through software protection. Software and program code protection In this project which is a network system where users or customers interact and supply their personal and confidential information, the ISP i.e. internet Service Provider is expected to take an extra step to ensure that all the information supplied remain confidential by using security software popularly known as Firewall security.

4.5

SYSTEM CONTROL

Computer equipments are fragile and very sensitive to power frequency and voltage fluctuation from PHCN. Consequently to support these instabilities of current
31

frequency and voltage, it is necessary to support this computer equipment with stabilizer and uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

4.6

SYSTEM TESTING

The phase of system testing is the most rigorous and time consuming. Its major objective is to find and correct any error detected. There could be logic or performance bug and will be found in linkage between program and computer procedures. As it is very rare for a new written program to run successfully at the first instance, much time has to be spent debugging the program errors after having being tested and found inefficient.

As no system is completely free of errors, it is then advisable for the new system to be run and tested for many times. This system should be continuously tested so that there will be provision for necessary correction to be made. The menu gives a number of options, Each menu option leads users to a procedure within the application or to another menu.

4.7

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

This improves the life span and efficiency of the program. All aspects of the system (i.e. both the software and the hardware) need to be looked after. A computer system consultant can be called in on a regular basis to perform system check. Also fire extinguisher should be made available.

32

SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE
There must be backup copies of the program, which should be kept in a safe, cool and dry place to avoid corruption.

In case problem arises on the program, the programmer should be contacted as soon as possible. If this is not possible an authentic system analyst should be contacted.

33

CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The newly designed on-line banking system for First bank of Nigeria Plc, though which is the simulation of the existing one already available on the internet will enable the banks headquarter, its numerous branches and their customers to do normal daily banking activities through the network of all networks which is popularly known as internet.

The following benefits can be achieved from this newly designed system:

     

Preparation of account summary (statement of accounts) Funds transfer (within accounts in this same bank) Validate/update account On-line cheques request/honor Bill payment Enquiry account status

5.1

CONSTRAINTS

Limitations and restrictions encountered during the development of this newly designed project work are briefly discussed underneath:

Initially I proposed to use ASP which is an acronym for Active Server page which is a server technology using _JavaScript scripting language. I later found out that _JavaScript is good for client side application only when after Ive invested a lot of
34

time and energy learning _JavaScript so I have to start learning _VBScript which is good for server side application using ASP server technology. This switch of suddenly learning a new scripting programming language was so stressful and tedious.

5.2

OBSERVATION

It is observed that the mode of implementation is much better. System Operators will get easily acquainted to the new system.

Also, the cost of implementing the new system might be expensive at the initials stage considering the cost of the software and hardware components, but at the long run, it is observed and seen that the benefit to be derived is far more than considering the cost.

5.3

SUGESTION

Since we are in the age of Information Technology and we need to move with the current dispensation. Hence it is of paramount importance for Banks to adopt this new technology. Therefore the system operator should familiarize him/her with the package.

5.4

CONCLUSION

This on-line built system point out clearly the differences between the normal or formal banking routine performances and output production compare to it. This newly developed application which is an internet application now brings computer

35

technology more closely to people in general because some might have been hearing so many wonders the computer hardware and the intangible software can do.

This project exercise will serve as a workable model for any bank in the banking sector whose data and its storage is the heart of their information system. The data has to be accurate, up to date, accessible in the required form and made available to one or perhaps many users at the same time.

This project work runs on a configured IIS which is an acronym for Internet Information System running on Window XP platform. The server technology used is ASP with Microsoft Access Database. The project can be improved upon by replacing the Microsoft Access Database with Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle Database Package both of which support large data and numerous accessing formats.

5.5

Recommendation

This system can be used by any bank that has not fully embraced online method or transaction and could be modified to work for other small Institutions to overcome tediousness, time wastage and distance problems, to acquire competitive advantage and to improve the Banks information through effective query of the Banks database.

36

REFERENCES 1. V.Rajaraman, Fundamentals of Computer, Practice, New Delhi, 1991.

2. User Guide, Microsoft Access, Relational Database Management System for windows 3. CSc 702 System Analysis note book. 4. Mr. Peter Egom: First Banking System Vol, 1. 5. New Merchant Bank year 1998 6. Thomas Wales: General Computing USA 1977 7. NCC, LONDON: System analysis and Design Part 2 1995 8. JOHNSON DABOR: Elements of School practices 1997 9. PHILIPS MIGAH (USA) Database Management System 1998 10. EBGE JAMES (NIGERIA) Guideline to Computerization by 1996 11. Google 12. BILL GATE Business at the speed of thought Microsoft Press USA 1998 13. RAYNOLDS MATHEWS Beginning E/ commerce with Visual basic, ASP and MTS work publishing, New York. 2000.

37