In the fast-evolving world of financial technology, few professionals have made as significant an impact as Ms. Carole Elias, the Business Development Officer at ProgressSoft Corporation. With over a decade of experience in connecting technical solutions to market needs, Elias has been instrumental in positioning ProgressSoft as a global leader in real-time payment and financial solutions. Her strategic vision, customer-centric approach, and deep understanding of the fintech landscape have helped the company deliver transformative platforms to over 370 financial institutions across 25 countries. This 800-word article explores Elias’s role, her contributions to ProgressSoft, and her influence on the future of digital banking.
A Visionary Leader in Fintech
Carole Elias brings a wealth of expertise to her role at ProgressSoft, a Jordan-based company founded in 1989 that specializes in real-time payment solutions for banks, central banks, and financial service providers. With a degree from Princess Sumaya University for Technology and a robust professional network of over 500 LinkedIn connections, Elias combines academic rigor with practical business acumen. Her career is defined by a passion for bridging the gap between innovative technology and the evolving demands of the financial sector. As Business Development Officer, she spearheads initiatives to expand ProgressSoft’s global footprint, forge strategic partnerships, and deliver solutions that redefine how financial institutions engage with their customers.
Elias’s work is rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges traditional banks face in a digital-first world. She recognizes that incumbent institutions must balance legacy systems with the need for agile, customer-focused services. Her ability to translate complex technical capabilities into compelling business value has made her a trusted advisor to clients and a key driver of ProgressSoft’s success.
Championing the Digital Banking Platform
One of Elias’s most notable contributions to ProgressSoft was her leadership in the global launch of the company’s Digital Banking Platform in 2021. Announced on the main stage, Elias highlighted the platform’s ability to transform customer engagement by enabling banks to deliver services in real-time across multiple branches and locations from a single, centralized system. “We are changing the way your customers engage with you, the speed in which you introduce new services,” she stated, emphasizing the platform’s flexibility and control.
The Digital Banking Platform, designed with insights from hundreds of everyday customers, offers a holistic and personalized financial experience. It leverages intuitive technologies to recommend nearby goods and services, prompt cross-selling opportunities, and seamlessly integrate with back-end and third-party systems. Its microservices architecture ensures compliance with regulations and sanctions lists, making it a game-changer for banks seeking to modernize without disrupting existing infrastructure. Elias’s ability to articulate the platform’s value—faster service deployment, enhanced customer retention, and new revenue streams—has resonated with financial institutions worldwide.
In a 2021 interview with The Paytech Magazine, Elias elaborated on the platform’s role in helping banks compete with neobanks and fintech challengers. “The more banks are in touch with their customers, the more likely they are to retain those customers or attract new ones,” she explained. She emphasized that ProgressSoft’s solutions, like the Payments Hub, enable traditional banks to achieve digital agility with minimal disruption, leveraging their regulatory expertise to maintain a competitive edge.
Advocating for Digital Transformation
Elias is a vocal advocate for digital banking as an imperative, not an option, for modern financial institutions. In a 2021 “Quick Chat” with ProgressSoft, she defined digital banking as the automation of traditional services, accessible via web and mobile channels, to meet evolving customer expectations. “The shift towards digital banking has been driven by changing market demands,” she noted, citing benefits like expanded geographical reach, new revenue streams, paperless transactions, and reduced operational costs.
She urges banks to act swiftly, advising them to research customer behaviors and pain points to stay ahead of the curve. “Several years of success mean nothing when looking at modern banking today,” Elias warned, highlighting the fierce competition from neobanks, fintechs, and digital-only banks. Her call to action is clear: banks must embrace comprehensive digital solutions to cover the full spectrum of services, from onboarding to remote financial and non-financial offerings.
Expanding ProgressSoft’s Global Reach
Under Elias’s guidance, ProgressSoft has strengthened its presence in North America and the Caribbean, where she serves as a key business development contact. Her efforts have contributed to the company’s operations across 24 countries, with offices in Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Nepal. By fostering partnerships with global allies, Elias ensures ProgressSoft’s solutions integrate seamlessly with sophisticated networks and devices, delivering world-class value to clients.
Her work on the Payments Hub Platform, recently deployed at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), exemplifies her impact. This platform orchestrates various payment types in real-time, supports ISO 20022 transitions, and is Cross-Border Payments and Reporting Plus (CBPR+) ready. Elias’s ability to align such solutions with client needs has set new benchmarks for speed, security, and efficiency in the banking industry.
A Commitment to Innovation and Excellence
Elias’s contributions extend beyond product launches and client engagements. She is a thought leader who shares insights on emerging trends, such as the role of artificial intelligence in financial services and the potential of blockchain-based Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). ProgressSoft’s CBDC solution, which earned the Advancement in Digital Currency award in 2022, reflects the company’s innovative spirit—a vision Elias actively supports.
Her participation in industry events, such as the Central Bank Payments Conference and MWC Barcelona, further amplifies ProgressSoft’s influence. By engaging with experts and showcasing solutions like Intelligent Signature Recognition and Mobile Payments, Elias helps shape the future of financial technology.
A Legacy of Leadership
Carole Elias’s tenure at ProgressSoft is marked by her ability to blend strategic foresight with practical execution. Her leadership in launching the Digital Banking Platform, her advocacy for digital transformation, and her role in expanding ProgressSoft’s global reach have solidified her reputation as a fintech trailblazer. For Elias, the mission is clear: empower banks to become integral to their customers’ financial and non-financial lives.
As ProgressSoft continues to innovate—introducing solutions like the Message Depot for storing over one billion financial messages and supporting sustainable practices like electronic checks—Elias remains at the forefront, driving progress with a customer-first mindset. Her work not only elevates ProgressSoft but also sets a standard for what’s possible in the fintech industry. For banks navigating the complexities of digital transformation, Carole Elias is a beacon of innovation, proving that with the right technology and vision, the future of banking is limitless.
