Banker S.A. April 2014 | Page 39

SABRIC REPORT SABRIC: winning the fight against banking crime Collaboration is the key, says CEO of the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), Kalyani Pillay A Card-skimming devices. s the country celebrates 20 years of democracy, this year will also mark the 12th year since South African banks formed SABRIC. The organisation, formed by the major banks in 2002 to fight organised crime, started as a small company and has since evolved and blossomed into one of the key crime-fighting organisations in the country. But what was the secret of making SABRIC a success? SABRIC CEO, Kalyani Pillay, attributes the company’s success to its collaborative model and its ability to identify and respond to the ever-evolving bank crime landscape. ‘Banks, cash-in-transit (CIT) and ATM companies come together for a common purpose, which is to fight organised crime collectively,’ he states. The partnership is not only limited to private companies, but extends to government departments as well. In its effort to fight crime, SABRIC partners closely with departments such as the South African Police Services (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS). Other key government departments SABRIC engages with on behalf of its clients are the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Customs and Excise, as well as the Department of Transport, among others. Collaborating with different partners has taught SABRIC the importance of sa