As of January 1, 2028, aity AG will be fully integrated into Bern Cantonal Bank, according to a statement from Tuesday. The bank will thus return to a unified IT organization. The merger is taking place as part of Strategy 2030 and is intended in particular to facilitate the modernization of IT systems as well as investments in cybersecurity and digital offerings.

"A strong bank needs strong IT," BEKB CEO Armin Brun explains. The upcoming investments require closer cooperation between banking operations and IT, clear responsibilities and shorter decision-making paths.

Expectations not met

In 2022, following the acquisition of DXC, BEKB consolidated its IT in the newly founded subsidiary aity. The cantonal bank wanted to strengthen its technological independence while also opening up new business opportunities with additional market participants.

Four years later, the picture is mixed. Important technological foundations have been created and expertise has been built up. However, the structural separation has caused additional complexity. BEKB also admits that new market opportunities have developed less strongly than originally assumed.

Joint management already in place

The organizational rapprochement has already begun. Since July 2026, Markus Schwab has been heading both BEKB's IT Management and Value Streams department and aity AG. He will also lead the IT organization once it has been integrated.

The exact structure of the new organization is to be developed over the course of 2027. The complete operational and organizational merger is scheduled for early 2028.

Going forward, the focus will be on modernizing existing systems, improving cyber resilience and further developing digital banking services. The integration is intended to eliminate duplication and align IT investments more closely with the core banking business.