ATM software company milking bank accountholders-Reality and Fiction

I read an article today from following link.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=61106&Cat=3

I think it would be un just that i sit silent that information presented in it is quite distorted. So here are my comments with "Remarks" and "Conclusion". I  have worked in TPS for 5.5 years on ATM switch.

All proprietary means that the software is not compliant to ISO standards that are adopted globally by all the financial institutions

Remarks: :) I can only laugh about lack of knowledge of writer. ISO is standard it doesn't dictate you to make a web service like this. Moreover, TPS message formats are compliant with ISO that's why it is running not only in Pakistan but in many ME, Africa countries. Do you consider these countries fool enough. Again, You don't have knowledge about this so don't speak about it.

Since the software is proprietary, banks and ATM switches like 1Link are not allowed to check, audit or see the software code or even touch the machines that this software is installed on.

Remarks: Joke of the century, 1LINK is going through PCI audit and i am quite sure that you only know that PCI used to be slot in PC mother board. So, dude get some knowledge about it. Secondly, softwares are installed on bank's machines and they are in bank premises and under bank control like any other software. Since it is not a open source product like many other so you can't expect to see its code. If you are so desperate in seeing TPS source codes get a job there if you have enough talent :)

TPS is stealing a huge amount of money on a daily basis from bank accountholders. How is this possible? Hundreds of thousands of ATM transactions are made every day. If a virus or special code takes out just one paisa for each transaction, the account holders obviously cannot suspect any wrongdoing. But the company manages to steal a huge amount of money in this way every day from bank accounts

Remarks: Banks can sue you for this dude, Ever heard of "Day end"? When this thing happens core banking in banks post all accounting entries in respective heads and they all should balance all credit must be equal to all debit. This is basic accounting. Again, disappointing who let you write this article :)


He further said that after initial investigation it was believed that it was a mega scam in the banking sector

Remarks: Monopoly is something different than scam. Microsoft is facing multiple suits like this. But if it were a scam and i take 1 paisa out of your account daily then how the hell can day end complete in banks. Go and learn this from some account student of FA.


Sources further said that TPS bribed banks’ IT departments to install its software in banks and avoid audit. Other problems faced by banks due to this monopoly is that when things go wrong they have to wait for long periods for TPS to fix them. It charges them for every change or support. These charges to the banks are passed on to the accountholders as different fees by banks.

Remarks: Suppose even if TPS bribed then i think those involved in those bribes should be caught :). Dude this is not a sarkari bank wehere TPS softwares are installed. TPS software competes with ACI, S1,Euronet etc and then get in. I feel ashamed how on earth you are allowed to right in "THE NEWS" and no body audits you.

They said banks do not have any relationship with TPS, but they still have to pay charges to TPS. The reason is that TPS claims that they own the software installed at 1LINK (the main ATM switch) for bill payment and each entity (any bank) who wants to get connected with 1LINK for bill payment, must pay a licence fee to TPS.

This “system” has been put in place by 1LINK’s initial founders and board and is still prevalent due to the extraordinary bribes paid by TPS to board members of 1LINK. State Bank officials have also been pat of this scheme, sources said.

Remarks: Once again foolish statement. 1LINK is a business entity and they charge not TPS. Again, you can't critize business policy. It would be like i will start shouting why Oracle Database is charged per core not per processor?I think you don't even know what is core and what is processor.


Conclusion: I have worked in TPS for 5.5 years on their main switching products and I feel very sorry to say that writer doesn't even know the basics of accounting and trying to defame a company which is giving pride to Pakistan. Nonetheless, It won't hurt TPS because every knowledgeable person in the field(Banks,Financial Institutions) know TPS worths not only in Pakistan but in other countries. It has competed and replaced many International giants in other countries and If we agree to hypothesis placed by writer then how an earth this software gets place in countries like UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, France, etc,etc.

We are in the habit of degrading our own things like writer did without knowing it completely. Rather than appreciating a company which is home grown and competing with giants not only in Pakistan and outside Pakistan we are trying to insult it.

Last point, Check out ATM services offered by ACI and other giants banks in Pakistan were not even in position to get their own ATM switch if they were to ask them back in late 90s.
I assure one thing very clearly no banking software can steal your money, its a Bank. Everything is present and reconciled. You can always check your statement to be sure. Be it Avanza, be it TPS, be it any other company.

Art of becoming a good manager

Alright, so you get a team of programmers under you and you have been declared their manager. Wow!

So, if the above mentioned incident was an outcome of an accident or you have travelled a long road to reach here rules of game will remain the same.

Following are few things I have learned over the time from my personal experience or from colleagues having same role.

For many of us out there this is common sense but unfortunately we have common things missing.

1.       A Happy Smiling Face – I know you are not on a public dealing job but this is the very basic rule to be a good leader.  Whenever you approach your juniors or a junior approaches you, talk with a pleasant smiling face. This way you are giving him/her confidence like a good doctor does with his/her patient and then they speak out whatever they feel like.

2.       Never act like Corporate Feudal – Title of this advice says it all. Be humble and kind towards your juniors.  Don’t boss them; Make them realize that they are owners of their work. You are here to help and need their help to finish this task.

3.       What can I do for you Sir/Madam – For some people it looks odd if you ask your junior “May I be of any help” regarding work or any other matter. This shows that you are not a daddu (frog) manger but a multi dimensional personality having firm observations not only on work but on other matters which affect their work performance.

I have seen bosses making tea or bringing lunch/dinner, carrying hardware at times for their busy teams at work because they want to help. Remember your team is watching all this. Being a manager it is your responsibility to let your team focus on work and you do provide all the miscellaneous items support.

4.       Superstar treatment– Fame and Money always attracts, this is in human nature. I know you can’t give them a heavy pay check by yourself (again, lots of corporate theory J ). At least you have control over something which you can give them. Treat them like superstars; praise them by putting emails to higher management and to their colleagues about their achievements. If your budget affords I recommend giving away an ice cream, samosa, chips party on their achievements.

5.       Embrace Change– It’s always hard to swallow change. Don’t be hardliner, remember you are a manager and your task is to get best out of your resources. Let them come up with an idea, always ask them to bring a new idea. Get rid of your code entropy disease.  They might be suggesting something which really improves your things.

If you fail to convince them that their idea can’t work, try to give them time in which they can work out themselves or you do as they are suggesting in spare time and let them see how it collapses.  Developers are egoistic mostly and sometimes they tend to make technical things matter of ego in their early professional life.

6.       Say No to Workaholic attitude – It’s quite common that you will see juniors around who wants to work and work only. In short term you might consider it a benefit for yourself or your company but you are heading towards a disaster. Never ever allow such an attitude or approach of your juniors.

In short term this looks very attractive that what a dedicated resource sir jee! But, you are heading towards a disaster. If resources keep working like this un necessarily they will lose interest or burn out.

Tell them to have time for themselves, family and friends. Suggest them activities they should do after office hours.

7.       Successor Planning– Many of us don’t believe in doing this, they are afraid if they transfer all the information what their role will be, what their company would do with them. If you have this fear that transferring knowledge or control will make you retire then it means you don’t deserve where you are sitting today because you are afraid of kids whom you taught.

Until or unless you are working in a Seth (sole proprietor) company or poor corporate surrounded by politics then you don’t have to behave like this. Remember experience can’t be replaced.

8.       Party Time– No matter your company sponsors event or not, it’s not a complex thing that you and your team goes out for some activity like having lunch together on a weekends or go out on dhaba for tea in evening before going home and have some chit chat. This is a good way of learning minds of your resources and they also have chance to discuss general things with you.

9.       Have a break, Have some off days– Ask your juniors to plan and take annual leaves to have some break from a monotonous routine of office. You might have heard from your juniors I get bored at home, even then don’t take this excuse and give them a break.

10.   Patrolling– Kindly get up from your seat at least once a week during office hours suitably in late part of 1^st half or 2^nd half and visit desk of each of your team members to discuss how is it going, is everything fine, you can ask them about their studies or any activities they do.

11.   Act as Air Bag– I hope you understand what I mean. During a pressure situation, collapse, screaming clients act as a vacuum chamber for team. If you can’t shield them from all this I bet their mind will be distributed between all this and problem at hand.

Always ask them to do their best in pressure situations and keep environment light. Never ever show a tense face to them, this will definitely cause un rest, remain calm and composed.  Try to get best out of worst. Remember point-7(Successor Planning), what you do in front of juniors today they will do it when they will become managers and you have taught them all.

If you start postmortem or start shouting then this will create a very negative impression. Remember you are a manager and your job is to manage. Let them do technical work and you focus on keeping things in control. You will always have time to do postmortem of situation.

12.   Courtesy– It’s all about manners and courtesy. If your resources or someone in their close acquaintance got ill and you know that they are out of office because of this then give them a courtesy call or send them an SMS asking if you can be of any help.

13.   Divide Pizza Equally– Always ensure that everyone in team gets equal chances of growth, R&D projects, Trainings, Deputations. If you fail to do so then so you might face a serious problem where someone will get up and say good bye and thank you. Remember its not a mason's job, it takes lots of hard work to make an skilled worker. So, Keep your eyes and ears open.