1412	 The Banking Information System Concept	 Most large commercial banks have progressed to the point where their major accounting applications have been automated and more sophisticated usage of data processing equipment is being sought. This coupled with the availability of equipment well suited to real-time direct access processing has led to development within some banks of the central file of data base approach toward a banking information system. The banking information system now serves the two-fold purpose of providing real-time responses to inquires about individual account stasus and providing more complex combinations of information for management use. Both kinds of processing draw upon a common store of data contained in the direct access central file. This data base includes indexes which facilitate cross referencing of account information so that all relationships between bank and customer may be discerned. In introducing the banking information system concept a gradual approach to account cross-referencing and file conversion is most prudent. Generally this system must interface with other computer applications already existing within the bank.
