Callataÿ & Wouters

Global web site | About us | History

History

The company was created in 1983 by Didier de Callataÿ (formerly Royal Bank of Canada ) and Godefroid de Wouters (formerly CIG and Euroclear). From the outset, the company has focused on banking IT consultancy and services.

From 1983, a number of study assignments were undertaken with both Belgian and foreign banks, such as Générale de Banque, Crédit Communal, Nagelmackers, Puilaetco, Banque Commerciale Zaïroise.

Since 1985, the company embarked on projects involving development and implementation of new IT systems for Comptoir d'Escompte de Belgique and for Petercam, among others.

In 1988 the company carried out the full installation of a new IT system for Sogénal and Banco Hispano Americano. Callataÿ & Wouters underwent rapid growth, recruitment of several new senior staff members and the start of an uninterrupted period of expansion. Other banking IT projects followed.

Between 1989 and 1991, we developed and implemented a new system for the Caisse Privée Banque.

Between 1990 and 1994, we sold and installed a system modelled on the Caisse Privée system at the SEFB and at the Crédit Professionnel : this experience identified the emergence of a software base suitable for marketing to the entire banking industry.

In 1991, the company opened a subsidiary in Luxembourg and carried out a project for Kredietbank Luxembourg. In that same year, an in-house research and development department was created.

In 1993, an additional project based on the Caisse Privée system was undertaken for Fortis Bank Luxembourg. During this period, the system was re-developed in a UNIX, client-server, relational database platform, creating a true multi-platform banking software package.

In 1995, this integrated software package was formally launched under the name THALER (version 1). This was further accompanied by a substantial expansion of the research and development department. The company also embarked on concerted marketing activities to leverage the solid reputation Callataÿ & Wouters had built in its field.

From 1995 until 2000, Thaler was sold and installed in the following banks: Patriotique Banque d'Epargne, Banque de la Poste, Argenta Spaarbank, Creditmar, SanPaolo Bank Luxembourg, AGF/Assubel Bank and Anhyp.

In 1998, the company enhanced its capital position by joining with institutional investors, including SOFINDEV (SOFINA) and ISEP (FORTIS).

Thanks to a global partnership with Siemens Business Services for the marketing and implementation of Thaler, 1999 saw the first sale and installation of Thaler outside the Benelux area, in Britain 's National Savings Bank. After this sale, the company incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom in the spring of 2000.

The year 2000 was notable for the launch of TERAN, C&W's business intelligence solution for financial institutions. The solution was successfully implemented at SanPaolo Bank in Luxemburg, Fortis Bank Luxembourg, and Banque de la Poste in Belgium.

The company also launched KYUDO, its Internet Banking system, which was developed in collaboration with Argenta Bank.

THALER Version 2 was launched in 2001 (built on a completely new framework). The same year, Robeco started a new branch in Brussels, equipped with Thaler, Kyudo and Teran.

Still in 2001, BKCP (subsidiary of the Crédit Mutuel du Nord) began a Thaler project. At the same time, the CPI, a branch of the BKCP network, started its migration to Thaler.

2002 saw the conclusion of five major contracts for Thaler: Cortal Consors Belgium, Rabobank.be, Crédit Agricole Belgium, Eural, and Sarasin-Rabo Singapore. The variety of activities and size of these banks is noteworthy.

KYUDO B2N - the Internet banking software for agents - was released in 2002. It enables bank agents to have secured online access to all banking operations. Teamed with Kyudo B2C, it is the Internet banking solution of choice for banks.