Introduction
	Utilities
	Data maintenance
	Closing processing
	Accounting / Audit
	Client accounts statements
	Reporting / Desktop integration

1. Introduction

The RIBS4 Basic Application Services provides the standard functions and utilities used by all RIBS4 modules as well as the basic accounting and bookkeeping function. A short overview of the main features is presented in the following:

2. Utilities

System utilities:

	Security management system and access control works at:
		Functional level
		File level
		Record level including audit trail of all access to the system
	Menu system
	Job status monitoring for system manager:
		User definable menu system to reflect the organizational structure and decision power of each user
		Password and access control
		Common table maintenance
	Restart and recovery
	Remote access facilities for branches and customers

Application utilities:

	Master Data maintenance
	Table maintenance
	Audit trails for master data and table amendments
	Currency rates update and interest rates update, linked to base rate, including Forward rates
	Data Base utilities:
		Data base consistency check
	Posting message processor:
		Full recover facilities
		Creation of inter-branch clearing
		Debit / Credit control for balance sheet and contingent accounting

3. Data Maintenance

The data maintenance module allows maintaining all master data like clients, accounts, General Ledger etc. The security management system gives access control at function level, file level and record level, including the audit trail of all access to the system. Various database utilities permit to start reconciliation functions and purging of data files.

Business data maintenance

	Business partner database (customer, counterparts, correspondents, suppliers, etc.)
	Account information
	Securities information
	Interfaces to pricing services
	Historical prices and interest rates

Treasury data maintenance

	Standard payment instruction
	Limit definitions

Securities data maintenance

	Securities file
	Portfolio file
	Standard Settlement Instruction file
	Historical Securities Price file
	Historical Securities Interest rates (floating rates) file
	Market quotation update from Telekurs
	Corporate actions report from Telekurs

Master Data maintenance

	Central Information File (clients and business partners)
	Clients Relations
	Clients Account
	General Ledger
	Audit Trails for Master Data and Table amendments
	Currency rates update
	Interest rates update - linked to the base rate including Forward rates

4. Closing Processing

The accounts processed in a "closing" include all client finance accounts with master data stored in the master data file.

Types of closings included in the "closing module":

	Main closing
	Intermediate closing
	Accruals
	Commitment commission (optional, not standard)
	Simulated closing (Closing inquiry)
	Printing of journals, statements, maturity advices, lists of accrued interests, of premiums and discounts, etc.

Requirements

To close the specified accounts, it is essential that the master data contain the correct information with the corresponding codes.

The most important ones are:

	Next closing date
	Periodicity of closing
	Debit / credit interest rates
	Interest day calculation method

5. Accounting / Audit

The central accounting collects all functions to maintain and control the accounting and audit needs. It allows to enter accounting entries that are not generated by other Front Office RIBS4 application. The on-line processing gives the revaluation of foreign currency accounts, interest recalculation and General Ledger statements ordering. The on-line inquiry functions give with the multi-level possibility the zooming from an account balance through the account history to the originating Front-Office transaction.

The batch processing handles daily or periodical tasks as closure processing, creating periodical account statements, Year-end processing's, charges and fees calculation, reversal of accruals etc.

The reporting creates any kind of paper advice's and reports as client account statements, General Ledger statements, posting control reports

Central accounting and related Functions :

	On-line accounting entries (integrated to the Nostro positions)
	On-line processing (individual revaluation, closing, statements)
	Inquiry
	Batch processing (revaluation, closing, statements)
	Reporting (Balance sheet, posting journals, client statements, control reports)

6. Client Accounts Statements

Daily, periodical and individual statements can be printed. The printing of statements is controlled by the general RIBS4 mailing instructions. These instructions are defined on the level of the client and of the account. It indicates to whom the original and/or copy(ies) of the statement should be sent (to holder, mailing address, etc...), whether it should be printed with the remark 'To be kept with bank' or 'Special mailing' in the address field, and also the periodicity for printing.

7. Reporting / Desktop integration

The reporting creates any kind of paper advices and reports as client account statements, General Ledger statements and posting control reports.

As part of the standard RIBS4 package the Report Generator module is a powerful combination of data retrieval and reporting which can be used directly on the RIBS4 databases. It's a sophisticated user-interface, which guides the user through the various steps required to define the contents of the report:

The standard RIBS4 Report Generator has the following features:

	Selecting the files
	Selecting and defining the fields
	Extracting the data
	Defining the report layout

All of the files in the RIBS4 database can be selected for use in the Reporting Generator:

	Tables (currency codes, account types etc.)
	Master Files (client information, account information etc.)
	Historical Files (transactions, currency rates etc.)

Some of the RIBS4 Report Generator features include:

	Efficient user interface which guides the user through the various steps required to define a report
	Ability to "join" files using common fields
	Definition of multiple search criteria, sort sequences and break-points
	Report previewing
	Consolidation of multiple queries into a single report
	Production of formatted output for spreadsheets
	Processing performance information display to optimize the procedures
	Saved reports can be integrated into the RIBS4 menu system.

Standard PC packages like Spreadsheets or Word Processing (for instance Excel, Access or Word from Microsoft) can be used to produce the reports, statistics or statements needed including graphical representation.