How do programming languages impact banking software?

Banking software: Origins

The banking sector quickly caught on to the potential of business process automation and digitisation and emerged as an early pioneer of advanced IT solutions. In the first years of banking software, COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language), introduced at the end of the 1950s, set out a brand new phase in commercial software. As it was designed to address specific business needs, it was perfect for use in financial and bookkeeping operations.  

After many decades and despite new advances in technology, COBOL continues to be widely used in legacy systems at financial institutions. However, the evolution of the banking sector, along with newly emerging security, performance and innovation challenges, has led to the advent of more advanced programming languages.

Popular programming languages in banking software development

Server-side programming languages play a key role in banking software development and construction, ensuring app performance, scalability, security and operational stability. Java and C# are two main technologies preferred in the design of advanced back-end applications.

Java

Java was presented by Sun Microsystems, and thanks to the JVM (Java Virtual Machine), a Java code can run on many different platforms in unmodified form. Java has now long enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for reliability, security and platform-independence.  

Java EE and Spring Framework offer advanced opportunities for app development, including transaction support, security, session management and more. These features are particularly important for complex banking systems. 

Secure deployment for financial software

The popularity of Java in the banking industry can be traced not just to its versatility and reliability, but also its extensive ecosystem and solid support for key security features. Technological maturity is often a deal-breaker for financial institutions that want to provide their customers with top-notch services that are also highly secure and scalable.

Advantages of Java:

• Solid security mechanisms for improved data protection,
• A wide range of libraries and frameworks to facilitate advanced app development,
• Flexibility offered by solutions that are easy to move from one platform to another.

C#

C# is a programming language created by Microsoft as a key element of the .NET platform, designed for use in a wide range of desktop, web and mobile apps. C# is simple, modern and versatile, offering backwards compatibility and object programming support. It also provides advanced security features, such as safe memory management and automated resource management. This, in turn, minimises the risk of memory leaks and other issues that could adversely affect system performance.

High performance financial software

C# is highly ranked as a programming language for financial apps, mainly because of its integration with .NET and solid support services provided by Microsoft. These features make C# an attractive choice for companies that seek to build modern, secure and effective IT systems.

Advantages of C#:

• A focus on multi-thread processing, which directly translates into increased performance;
• Strict integration with .NET Framework and Microsoft solutions.

Python

Python is popular mainly on account of its versatility. Today, it is used especially in areas that require in-depth data analysis, risk management, machine-learning and automation. Python is not only easy to learn and flexible, but also provides access to an extensive ecosystem of scientific libraries such as Pandas, NumPy or SciPy, which makes it a powerful tool for financial analysis and data engineering.

For financial companies looking for new features

Python supports machine learning and predictive analysis, opening up new avenues for the financial institutions. Libraries such as TensorFlow and scikit-learn make it possible to create advanced predictive models to forecast market behaviour, assess loan risk or take automated investment decisions.

Key features of Python:

• Multiple data analytics tools;
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning support;
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Frontend technologies in banking software

In the context of banking software, where user comfort and first impressions play an incredibly crucial role, front-end programming languages and software development tools are essential. Companies offering banking software solutions typically rely on JavaScript and TypeScript to create responsive and intuitive user interfaces that improve user satisfaction and trust levels.

JavaScript

JavaScript is the cornerstone in the development of interactive user interfaces for online applications. Universal and versatile, it is an indispensable tool for any front-end developer. It allows dynamic and responsive apps to be created that can affect user experience and, consequently, contribute to customer satisfaction and trust.

TypeScript

TypeScript, which is a superset of JavaScript, includes many new features, such as static typing, which enables developers to have better control of the code, as well as ensure its security and scalability in larger projects. It helps catch bugs in app development and facilitates cooperation within teams, where code structure matters and should be easy to understand. TypeScript is used in projects that require greater code precision and better organisation, typical of corporate environments, such as banks.

Popular front-end frameworks

Institutions now use a wide variety of front-end frameworks, the most popular of which include Angular, React and Vue.js, which allow complex, interactive and responsive user interfaces to be built.

Frameworks make it easier to manage apps more effectively, which is crucial in environments where data need to be constantly updated. Their modularity and support for contemporary web standards, such as HTML5 and CSS3, make it possible to build scalable and visually attractive banking apps.

The importance of databases for banking services

Databases are the cornerstone of banking software, where large data volumes are stored, managed and analysed. Apps use both SQL (relational) and NoSQL (non-relational) databases to address the various needs of modern banking software development, walking a thin line between solid data integrity and the flexibility required to support large, dynamic data sets.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

Traditional, relational SQL databases managed by RDBMS (Relational Database Management Systems), such as MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server, employ a well-defined and rigorous structural model that helps ensure data consistency and integrity.

They ensure robust transaction support with ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) mechanisms, which is crucially important for financial operations, where every transaction needs to be processed in a reliable manner. SQL is used, for instance, to create complex reports and analyses, or implement advanced security and audit policies.

NoSQL

In response to growing demands for greater flexibility and scalability, many applications also use NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, Cassandra or Redis. Since they do not use any rigid data templates, databases of this kind enable an easier and more flexible management of large, distributed data sets. NoSQL databases are particularly useful in banking apps that require high throughputs and adaptability, e.g. in systems that process transactions in real time. There are four main types of NoSQL databases:

• Graph databases;
• Wide-column databases;
• Key-value databases;
• Document databases.

The choice of either an SQL or a NoSQL database for banking software depends on specific app requirements, such as the fast processing of large transaction volumes, high data security levels or flexibility for managing diverse data types. A hybrid approach that taps the advantages of both technologies is also gaining traction, as it addresses the challenge of effectively juggling different demands.

Banking software. Takeaways

Banking software development faces constant challenges, as it needs to ensure a high level of security, respond to growing customer expectations and meet constantly changing legal regulations.

Banks and other financial institutions that decide to invest in new technologies to digitise their business processes get an important competitive advantage, but also become more available and open to the needs of their customers. The choice of programming language that will best match a given banking project depends on its unique requirements and specific challenges, as well as the experience of companies offering software solutions.