How Brentwood Bank Saved 5 Hours a Day by Automating Secure File Transfers

With secure automated file transfer, this banking institution cut down hours of manual effort a day with Progress MOVEit Automation and MOVEit Cloud.

In banking, every second counts—and so does every file. Whether it’s payroll data, credit card records or quarterly reports, secure, timely file transfers are essential.

Yet for many financial institutions, outdated processes still get in the way. Manual uploads. Encrypted email workarounds. Endless hours spent maintaining scripts and double-checking reports.

For Brentwood Bank, a 100-year-old community bank in Pittsburgh, this challenge was all too familiar. With just a 10-person IT team, they were spending hours every day managing manual file transfers that kept business operations moving—but slowed the team down.

That changed when they brought in Progress MOVEit Automation and Progress MOVEit Cloud.

The Problem: Too Many Files, Not Enough Time

In today’s banking environment, secure data flows drive everything—from regulatory reporting to payroll accuracy to customer trust. Brentwood Bank’s IT team was responsible for keeping those flows moving smoothly. But the process was far from efficient.

Encrypted file deliveries could take up to three hours. Routine quarterly transfers meant babysitting jobs instead of focusing on higher-value projects. Managing data from their SaaS-based phone provider added even more friction. And with strict service-level agreements (SLAs) to meet, even small delays created big risks.

The Turning Point: Automate, Secure, Scale

According to David Christopher, VP and Director of IT Infrastructure & Operations, the challenge was straightforward but urgent:

“For a bank, having a secure file transfer solution is imperative. MOVEit Automation is best of breed.”

In 2022, Brentwood Bank decided to rethink its approach. The team implemented MOVEit Automation and MOVEit Cloud—initially to streamline the secure transfer of call recordings. But the success was immediate and MOVEit software quickly became their go-to platform for automating critical data flows.

Today, the bank runs 10 to 20 automated jobs daily, scaling up to 40 during peak periods. Among them:

• Distributing Crystal Reports
• Exporting Excel-based financial summaries
• Encrypting and transferring sensitive files via PGP
• Moving core banking data between on-premises and cloud systems
• Integrating directly with ServiceNow for automated ticketing

MOVEit Cloud acts as an SFTP endpoint, while MOVEit Automation orchestrates the heavy lifting behind the scenes. The bank scaled smoothly from Tier 1 to Tier 2 without disruption, citing flexibility and ease of growth as key benefits.

The Impact: Time Saved, Risk Reduced, Confidence Gained

The results speak for themselves:

• Five hours saved daily: Tasks that used to take hours now run in minutes. One quarterly encrypted transfer dropped from three hours to just 15 minutes.
• Stronger security posture: With ISO and SOC 2 certifications, encryption and granular access controls, MOVEit software helps Brentwood Bank stay compliant and audit-ready.
• Operational resilience: Automated alerts and reliable workflows help teams consistently meet SLAs—even for time-sensitive jobs like payroll transfers.
• Room to innovate: By greatly reducing repetitive manual work, the IT team can now focus on strategic initiatives, including AI-driven workflows and broader digital transformation.

As David put it:

“You can use a low-cost tool, but if you’re missing deadlines or can’t prove delivery, the repercussions are serious.”

What This Means for Banks Everywhere

Brentwood Bank’s story highlights a larger truth: banks can’t afford to treat secure file transfer as an afterthought. Manual processes don’t just drain resources—they increase operational risk, especially in regulated environments.

With MOVEit software, financial institutions can:

• Automate repetitive tasks to free up IT teams
• Secure sensitive data with robust encryption
• Simplify compliance reporting and maintain audit readiness
• Scale operations without adding complexity

For banks navigating growing regulatory pressure and digital transformation, automation isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a competitive advantage.

Final Thoughts

Brentwood Bank turned a critical operational challenge into a strategic win by investing in automation and security. With MOVEit software, they’ve saved time, strengthened compliance and gained the visibility needed to support future innovations.

If your financial institution is struggling with manual processes, it might be time to follow Brentwood’s lead: Explore MOVEit software today.

To read more details, visit the full case study: