IBM, the consultancy giant, has signed a 10-year multi-billion services agreement with ABN AMRO to manage the Netherlands-based bank’s IT infrastructure that supports the bank’s operations globally.

IBM, the consultancy giant, has signed a 10-year multi-billion services agreement with ABN AMRO to manage the Netherlands-based bank’s IT infrastructure that supports the bank’s operations globally.

The agreement includes implementing a private IBM cloud and further simplifying and standardising existing IT systems, ranging from mobile computing to mainframes, according to a statement yesterday from IBM.

The US consultancy is trying to build revenues in the market for cloud computing, where computer services are delivered through the internet. Meanwhile, there is a trend of banks to put more services online and reduce the need for traditional branch offices and hence costly real estate and staffing.

The IBM press release did not state the exact financial size of the contract.

ABN AMRO, which engages in services including private banking, is currently owned by the Dutch government after bailing it out amid the 2008 financial crisis, and is expected to announce plans for privatisation in coming months.