UBS is aiming for a swift and smooth IT integration with recently acquired Credit Suisse, bringing over only 10% of its former rival's 3000 applications.
UBS bought its fellow Swiss lender Credit Suisse in an emergency rescue last year in a move that is expected to result in $13 billion in cost savings that will partly come from merged IT systems.
However, speaking at an event this week, UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti warned that any delay in in the IT and data integration plan could hit these savings.
"We are pretty convinced that our real risk is a delay, rather than are we able to execute or not," said Ermotti.
Client migration from Credit Suisse to UBS will begin this year with a target of decommissioning 30% of Credit Suisse apps in 2024.
Says Ermotti: "By integrating only 300 applications of Credit Suisse's out of 3000 applications, we are really reducing the risk of IT integration risks."
The UBS CEO also acknowledged that the concentration on integration could leave the bank lagging behind rivals in the generative AI race.
"Yeah, the risk is there, but we are aware of that risk," he told his audience. "We already run 100 AI advanced technology projects, half-half between front and back, so we are on top of it."