Interactive Financial eXchange Forum
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About the Forum

IFX Forum Overview

The Interactive Financial eXchange Forum was formed in 1997 to create a messaging standard for financial services that would address the challenges brought on by the advent of network-based computing models.  Based on the work previously done by the Open Financial Exchange (OFX) and IBM/Integrion GOLD standard, the Forum proceeded to re-invest all of the knowledge gained from those efforts to design a next-generation XML standard that would be usable in many types of environments, extensible to cover many types of financial transactions, and globally focused in recognition of the increased need to communicate around the world.

The IFX Forum membership is made up of industry-leading financial institutions, service providers and independent software vendors, who all believe in the process of open, industry-driven standards creation.  Membership is open to any organization interested in contributing to the development of open financial standards.

IFX Forum Organization

The IFX Forum is governed by its Board of Directors, which is elected by the membership.  The Forum is organized into Committees and Working Groups.

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors.  It acts as the executive body of the IFX Forum Board of Directors and it manages the routine affairs of the organization, ensuring that the Bylaws and Membership Rules are observed in a fair and open manner.

The Steering Committee also provides the leadership, structure and process for the development, promotion, use and adoption of the IFX business requirements and message specifications.  The Steering Committee approves formation of working groups and project proposals, and oversees the Architecture Committee.

The IFX Forum Architecture Committee

The Architecture Committee ensures that the family of IFX specifications is consistent, efficient and easy to implement.  Working to coordinate the various industries affected by financial transactions, the Architecture Committee unites the myriad requirements to provide one common solution between and among various industries interacting in the financial environment.  More specifically, the Architecture Committee:

The IFX Forum Working Groups

To further expedite efforts to develop the IFX specification, the Forum established Working Groups to develop parts of the specification document that applies to a specific sector of the industry. The Working Groups define the business requirements for the IFX specification and recommend processes for adoption and implementation.

The IFX Forum is currently organized into the following Working Groups:

If you are interested in getting more information on these Working Groups, please contact the chairs of each group.  Details about each group are available in the IFX In Action section of this website.

IFX Secretariat

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