What is Aquila?
Aquila is the ISO 20022 native financial messaging, payments and reconciliation platform built by Aqua Global. It sits between a bank’s core banking platform and the payment networks, giving operations teams a single place to control the flow of messages across SWIFT and local clearing. Because it works alongside the existing core rather than replacing it, banks gain native ISO 20022 processing and automated reconciliation without a disruptive core migration.
What solutions does Aqua Global provide?
Aqua Global delivers a robust suite of financial messaging and transaction automation solutions across payments, treasury and securities processing, integrating a bank’s internal systems with the external services and networks around them. It is delivered through Aquila, a modular platform that brings straight through processing, incident management, reconciliation, matching and reporting together on a single shared database, with a messaging hub at its heart controlling all inward and outward Swift and ISO 20022 traffic. Because every module is built to the same standard, a bank can start with the area of greatest need and extend into the others as it grows, which helps it simplify complexity, enhance compliance, reduce operational risk and accelerate change.
Does Aqua Global replace our core banking system?
No, Aquila works alongside your existing core banking system rather than replacing it. It sits as a messaging and reconciliation layer between the core and the payment networks, which means a bank can adopt native ISO 20022 processing and automation without the cost, risk and timeline of a full core replacement. This decoupled approach is one of the main reasons foreign bank branches and mid tier banks choose Aqua Global.
Which core banking systems does Aquila work with?
Aquila integrates with any core banking platform through the core’s own interfaces, and it is regularly deployed alongside systems such as Finastra, Oracle Flexcube and Temenos. Because the integration happens at the messaging layer, there is no need to modify or upgrade the underlying core in order to add ISO 20022 processing, payments automation or reconciliation. This makes Aquila a practical fit for banks running legacy cores that would otherwise be expensive or slow to change
What deployment options does Aquila support?
Aquila can be deployed in the cloud, on premises, or as a hybrid of the two, so a bank can choose the model that suits its security and infrastructure requirements. The platform is built for cloud environments including Azure and AWS while still supporting institutions that need to keep processing within their own data centres. Whichever option a bank selects, the same modular suite and round the clock processing apply.
Can Aqua Global help with ISO 20022 migration?
Yes, supporting banks through ISO 20022 migration is one of Aqua Global’s core specialisms. Aquila can consume and produce both ISO 20022 (MX) and the older SWIFT MT (FIN) formats, so a bank can run the two in parallel during the coexistence period and move to full native processing at its own pace. Having already helped many banks meet earlier deadlines, Aqua Global understands in detail what full adoption requires rather than treating it as a one off translation exercise.
How does Aqua Global help banks meet the ISO 20022 structured address deadline?
From 14 November 2026, payment messages will need to carry structured address data, and messages that still rely on unstructured addresses will begin to be rejected. Aquila validates and structures address information as messages pass through the hub, which helps banks stay compliant without reworking their core systems. This gives operations teams a clear route to meeting the deadline even where the underlying data is still held in older formats.
What is the difference between native ISO 20022 processing and a translation tool?
A translation tool converts messages between the older MT format and ISO 20022 MX at the edge, which meets a deadline but leaves the richer ISO 20022 data underused. Native processing means the platform understands and works with ISO 20022 messages in full, unlocking the improved data quality, screening and straight through processing that the standard was designed to deliver. Aquila offers both a native MX messaging hub and a transformation option, so a bank can begin with translation and progress to full native adoption when it is ready.
Which banks does Aqua Global work with?
Aqua Global works with banks in 23 countries, ranging from UK foreign banks to large tier 1 banks. Its customer base includes internationally recognised names such as Banco do Brasil, ING, Nomura and Citadele, reflecting a track record in high volume, mission critical transaction processing.
How long has Aqua Global been in business?
Aqua Global was founded in 1983 and has spent more than four decades focused on financial messaging and transaction processing for banks. That long history means the team has worked through successive generations of Swift standards and regulatory change, which is a significant advantage when guiding banks through programmes such as ISO 20022. Few providers in this space can point to the same depth of continuous experience.
Where is Aqua Global based?
Aqua Global is headquartered in London, at 84 Stafford Road, Wallington, and also operates a support and development hub in Poland. This gives the company a UK base close to its foreign bank branch customers alongside a wider European delivery capability. It also works with a network of global business partners to support customers in other regions.
Does Aqua Global offer round the clock support?
Yes, Aqua Global provides 24/7 processing and support, reflecting the reality that payment and messaging operations never truly stop. Banks running Aquila can rely on continuous processing and access to support whenever it is needed, including well outside standard office hours. This matters in particular for institutions operating across multiple time zones.
How can I book a demo?
You can book a demo of any Aquila solution by emailing info@aqua-global-solutions.com, completing the demo request form on this site, or calling +44 (0)20 8544 3200. A member of the team will arrange a session tailored to the areas most relevant to your bank, whether that is payments, reconciliations or ISO 20022. Demonstrations are usually arranged quickly and shaped around your own use cases.
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