BofS has always been a leader in IT. This was the case when I began my career there.
The London-based bank is increasingly relying on data marts — smaller data warehouses that focus on a particular department — to enable its divisions to run reports against specified datasets on a self-service basis, rather than relying on technical staff. In most cases, reporting is carried out automatically using business intelligence software.
Source: BankNet 360 – Bank of Scotland Overhauls IT
Database experts are always talking about the importance of datamarts, and I expect this is an important strategy for BofS that we should all watch.
tags: datamarts
Bankwatch 
I’d hardly consider myself a database expert. But I know a thing or two. 🙂
Really, in my opinion, there are two important things companies need to ensure: the quality of the data collected, and the ability of business users to get at it. Everything else — how you logically set everything up, what you call it, what tools you use to manipulate or display your data, security, topology, etc. — is secondary.
Re: “the ability of business users to get at it”
This seems to be one common thread that the article, and your comment share.