Myanmar Citizens Bank taps Temenos for core banking upgrade

By Vriti Gothi

Temenos has partnered with Myanmar Citizens Bank (MCB) to support the bank’s digital transformation initiatives, with a focus on upgrading core banking operations and modernising payment systems. The agreement reflects MCB’s efforts to strengthen its technology foundation amid rising demand for secure, real-time digital banking services.

As part of the collaboration, MCB will implement Temenos’ modern banking platform to enhance the stability, scalability, and resilience of its core systems. The platform is expected to enable faster and more secure payment processing across both domestic and international networks, while supporting real-time transaction capabilities. The upgrade is aimed at improving operational efficiency and ensuring the bank’s infrastructure can support future growth and product innovation.

The partnership comes at a time when banks across Southeast Asia, particularly in emerging and frontier markets, are prioritising core system modernisation to address evolving customer expectations and increasing transaction volumes. Legacy banking systems have often limited the ability of institutions to roll out new digital services or integrate seamlessly with national and cross-border payment networks. By investing in a modern core banking platform, MCB is positioning itself to respond more effectively to these challenges.

For Myanmar’s banking sector, the initiative is also significant in the context of financial inclusion. Reliable core systems and real-time payments infrastructure are widely viewed as foundational to expanding access to digital financial services, especially for underserved segments of the population. Modern banking platforms can support greater interoperability, reduce transaction friction, and enable banks to deliver services more efficiently across physical and digital channels.

MCB said the implementation forms part of its broader strategy to modernise its banking infrastructure and expand its range of digital services in line with changing market demands. The renewed partnership with Temenos underscores a shared focus on long-term innovation rather than incremental system upgrades.

The official signing ceremony was attended by MCB’s CEO and senior management team, highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative for the bank. While no financial terms were disclosed, the collaboration is expected to lay the groundwork for a future-ready banking environment, with improved service reliability, enhanced customer experience, and greater readiness to integrate with evolving payment ecosystems in the region.