Metro Bank Simplifies Infrastructure Modernization with Rackspace Private Cloud Powered by Broadcom’s VCF

This UK bank migrated more than 1,200 workloads to a modern private cloud environment, accelerating transaction response times and easing pressure on critical operations.

Metro Bank is a UK-based retail and commercial bank known for its focus on customer experience and operational accessibility. With a growing footprint of stores and digital services, the bank supports a wide range of financial products, from personal banking to business services.

As a long-standing Rackspace Technology customer, Metro Bank has continuously evolved its infrastructure to meet rising performance expectations, regulatory requirements and customer demand. Its environment supports critical banking operations, including transaction processing, mobile applications and end-of-day financial reconciliation.

Customer

Metro Bank

Challenge

Modernize legacy infrastructure under tight timelines while avoiding the cost, risk and complexity of public cloud migration

Industry

Financial Services

Outcome

Completed migration 12% faster than planned, improving transaction speeds and reducing operational strain across critical banking systems

Situation

Metro Bank was reviewing options for its technology infrastructure. Rackspace were chosen as the preferred partner to deliver the project.

Metro Bank was looking to modernize parts of its technology infrastructure and had strict deadlines for the job. After looking into several options, Rackspace was chosen as the preferred partner to deliver the project.

Metro Bank needed a solution that could deliver cloud-like agility without introducing unnecessary risk. It also required a partner that could execute a large-scale transformation within a tight timeline, without disrupting day-to-day banking operations.

Behind the scenes, the scale was significant. The environment included more than 1,200 virtual machines, multiple data platforms and interdependent systems that could not tolerate downtime.

“Rackspace has done a superb job with the SDDC migration, with excellent project governance, hitting milestones on time and with minimal disruption to business as usual.”

- Ian Kerwin, Head of IT & Cloud Operations, Metro Bank

Solution

Rackspace Technology designed and delivered a modern software-defined data center (SDDC) environment that gave Metro Bank the benefits of cloud — automation, self-service and scalability — within a controlled private cloud model.

The engagement combined Rackspace Private Cloud Solution powered by Broadcom’s VMware Cloud Foundation with Professional Services and Managed Services, delivered as an outcomes-based project within a broader multiyear agreement. This simplified commercial complexity while aligning delivery to clear business results.

To meet the aggressive timeline, Rackspace procured and prepared the new infrastructure ahead of contract finalization. That early investment enabled immediate project kickoff and removed delays tied to hardware readiness.

Rackspace migrated more than 1,200 virtual machines across approximately 90 structured migration events. The migration was phased to reduce risk, maintain service continuity and keep critical banking systems fully operational throughout. Rackspace worked closely with Metro Bank teams at each stage, combining technical expertise with disciplined governance and coordination.

“Working with Rackspace on this project was a true partnership. They worked alongside us to co-develop ideas and share their deep expertise, supporting our objectives and deadlines.”

- Bhawesh Mandalia

Director of Cloud and Service Delivery, Metro Bank

Outcome

The SDDC transformation delivered measurable improvements across Metro Bank’s operations while maintaining uninterrupted service for customers.

The migration completed 12% ahead of schedule, whilst delivering measurable performance and operational improvements, including:

Faster end-of-day processing reduced time pressure on overnight operations and increased flexibility for other important maintenance activity
ATM and point-of-sale transaction speeds improved to their lowest latency in 11 years
Response times for mobile insight applications decreased by 50%
Platform consolidation simplified infrastructure and billing

Beyond the metrics, the project demonstrated what disciplined execution and strong partnership can achieve. The migration was largely invisible to the business — a result that matters in banking environments where disruption is not an option.

The success of this initiative has strengthened the ongoing relationship between Metro Bank and Rackspace Technology, setting the foundation for future modernization efforts.

Let’s talk about what’s next for you.

Share what success looks like for your business, and we’ll show you the path to get there.