



rtgwg                                                             X. Men
Internet-Draft                                                   Y. Fang
Intended status: Informational                                  UnionPay
Expires: 6 May 2026                                               B. Liu
                                                                  Q. Gao
                                                                 N. Geng
                                                                X. Shang
                                                                   Z. Li
                                                     Huawei Technologies
                                                         2 November 2025


             Agent Networking Scenarios of Digital Banking
            draft-men-rtgwg-agent-networking-in-digibank-00

Abstract

   This document describes several typical digital banking scenarios,
   and discusses the trend of banking digitalization evolving to agentic
   service inteconnection.  Then, this document proposes an agent
   networking architecture based on the core component which is agent
   gateway.

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   Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.1.  Background  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.2.  Agent Requirements in Digital Banking Scenarios . . . . .   3
     1.3.  Introduction of Agent Gateway and Networking
           Architecture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Modern Digitalization of Banking Services . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  Example Scenario 1: IPO Bank Statement Auditing . . . . .   4
     3.2.  Example Scenario 2: Retail Credit . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.3.  Example Scenario 3: Bank Electronic Certificate
           Services  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Bank Union and Digital Interconnection  . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     4.1.  Bank Union Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     4.2.  Digital Interconnection among Bank Union Members  . . . .   6
     4.3.  AS-IS: API-based Service Calling  . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     4.4.  TO-BE: Agentic Service Interconnection  . . . . . . . . .   7
   5.  Proposed Agent Networking Architecture  . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     5.1.  Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     5.2.  Agent Gateway as a Key Enabler  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   6.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   7.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   8.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   9.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

1.  Introduction

1.1.  Background

   With the rapid development of FinTech (Financial Technology), the
   digital banking business is undergoing profound changes.  Traditional
   banking systems face performance bottlenecks and integration
   challenges when it comes to handling cumbersome corporate audits,
   high-frequency electronic transaction certificate, and deeply
   customized user experiences.  The maturity of Artificial Intelligence
   (AI) technology, especially the emergence of the AI Agent, provides a
   new paradigm for solving these challenges.  AI Agents, capable of
   autonomous decision-making and task execution, are becoming the core
   components for building the next generation of intelligent financial



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   services.

1.2.  Agent Requirements in Digital Banking Scenarios

   In the digital banking business, the application scenarios for AI
   Agents cover customer service, fraud detection, personalized
   investment recommendations, smart contract management, and complex
   compliance checks etc.  These tasks often require the collaborative
   work of multiple Agents with different capabilities.  For instance, a
   loan application may require one Agent for identity verification, a
   second Agent for credit scoring, and a third Agent for compliance
   review.  This multi-Agent collaboration model necessitates a unified,
   efficient, and secure coordination mechanism.

1.3.  Introduction of Agent Gateway and Networking Architecture

   To achieve efficient, reliable, and secure networking and interaction
   among Agents, this proposal introduces the concept of the Agent
   Gateway and a networking architecture based on it.  The Agent Gateway
   acts as a critical hub in the Agent ecosystem, responsible for:

   *  Agent Registration and Discovery: Allowing Agents to efficiently
      discover and invoke other Agents or external services.

   *  Efficient Agent Communication: Agents can delegate functions like
      message routing and group communication to the Gateway, allowing
      them to focus more on business-specific implementation.

   *  Security and Authentication: Providing a unified mechanism for
      authentication, authorization, and data encryption to ensure the
      security of financial data.

   The networking architecture built upon the Agent Gateway is designed
   to provide an open, interoperable framework, enabling Agents
   developed by different vendors to be securely and seamlessly
   integrated into the digital banking business process.  Furthermore,
   the gateway-based implementation method can greatly simplify an
   enterprise's deployment and operations.

2.  Terms and Definitions

   *  Digital Banking: refers to the end-to-end digitization of
      traditional banking services.








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   *  Agent Gateway: a "Connection Hub" and "Security Steward" in the
      process of agent communication.  Its core role is to resolve
      interconnection issues between different Agents of different
      domains while ensuring secure, efficient, and orderly
      communication.

2.1.  Requirements Language

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in
   BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.

3.  Modern Digitalization of Banking Services

3.1.  Example Scenario 1: IPO Bank Statement Auditing

   o Business Scenario:

   During the process of a company's Initial Public Offering (IPO), the
   Sponsor Institution (often an investment bank) is required to review
   the bank transaction records of the prospective listed company, its
   directors, supervisors, senior management (D&S&SM), and key
   personnel.  This is done to understand related party transactions and
   fund transfers, and to verify:

   *  Whether the disclosure of related parties and related party
      transactions is complete.

   *  Whether there is any suspicion of fictitious revenue through off-
      book fund cycling.

   *  Whether there is undue benefit transfer or other undisclosed
      benefit arrangements.

   o Traditional Offline Method:

   The above process traditionally required the Sponsor Institution to
   accompany the relevant subjects being investigated to major local
   bank branches to print the bank statements (flow records) in person.

   o Existing API Method (Digital Banking Approach):








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   Based on a Digital Banking Union Platform (i.e., China UionPay’s
   Platform), the original offline process is transitioned online.  With
   the full authorization of the subject, the Sponsor Institution sends
   a request to the bank via the digital platform.  The bank then
   returns the transaction record information to the Sponsor Institution
   through the digital platform.

3.2.  Example Scenario 2: Retail Credit

   Leveraging the streamlined retail payment process flow as a
   foundational layer, the goal is to equip commercial banks with the
   capabilities to deliver standardized and highly accessible Inclusive
   Finance services to their retail customers.

   This strategic integration transcends simple transactional banking,
   culminating in a powerful, synergistic model that forms a
   comprehensive "Finance + Payment + Service" ecosystem capability.
   This integrated approach ensures consistent user experience,
   significantly lowers the barrier to financial access for underserved
   populations, and establishes the bank as a pivotal digital financial
   hub.

3.3.  Example Scenario 3: Bank Electronic Certificate Services

   To significantly enhance the efficiency and transparency of the
   corporate client experience, we will deploy secure, automated
   services for the inquiry and compliant download of essential
   financial documents, including electronic receipts and electronic
   account statements.

   This digital transformation is not merely an operational upgrade but
   a strategic move to solidify the value proposition of the Banking
   Union's corporate business line, driving increased customer
   satisfaction, reducing operational friction, and accelerating the
   overall digitization of B2B financial services.

4.  Bank Union and Digital Interconnection

4.1.  Bank Union Organization

   A Banking Union Organization typically refers to a non-profit joint
   organization collectively initiated and established by numerous
   member financial institutions.  Its core objective is to build and
   operate a unified, efficient interbank transaction processing and
   clearing network.  Taking China UnionPay as an example, it connects
   disparate bank card payment systems across different banks and
   regions by establishing and implementing uniform business rules and
   technical standards.



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   In essence, a Banking Union Organization acts as the "Public
   Infrastructure" and "Rule-Setter" in the payment domain.  Through
   resource integration and collaboration, it constructs a vast,
   convenient, and secure financial payment ecosystem for its member
   institutions and the general public.

4.2.  Digital Interconnection among Bank Union Members

   All member banks adhere to the unified technical standards and data
   formats established by the alliance, seamlessly integrating their
   core systems with the alliance's central clearing platform to achieve
   digital-level interconnection.

   Taking the aforementioned case of IPO auditing as an example: when a
   company applies for listing, underwriters and lawyers need to conduct
   a thorough review of the company's bank account transactions to
   verify the authenticity of its revenue and the compliance of its
   funds.  If the company holds accounts in dozens of different banks
   across the country, this review process becomes extremely cumbersome.
   At this point, the digital interconnection system established by the
   banking alliance (such as China UnionPay) plays a critical role.

   Although the company's accounts are dispersed across various member
   banks, these banks have achieved unified data standards and system
   interoperability through UnionPay's underlying financial network.
   Auditing institutions, with the company's authorization, can access a
   standardized data interface and initiate query requests to the
   alliance network.  These requests are instantly routed to the backend
   systems of each bank using a unified digital interface.
   Subsequently, the company's transaction records, scattered across
   different member institutions, can be securely, accurately, and
   efficiently aggregated and returned.

4.3.  AS-IS: API-based Service Calling

   Traditional API calls demonstrate significant limitations when
   dealing with complex and ever-changing business environments.

   *  Firstly, there is the issue of Fragility and Rigidity.
      Traditional automation relies on hard-coded workflows and
      predefined logic.  In the banking sector, even minor changes in
      business logic or underlying system behavior can disrupt automated
      processes, requiring manual reconfiguration.  This fragility makes
      it difficult for systems to adapt to real-time changes.







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   *  Secondly, there is a lack of active decision.  Traditional APIs
      typically execute tasks only after receiving instructions,
      providing options or suggestions.  Unlike Agents, which could
      autonomously interpret complex input signals, decide on the
      necessary sequence of actions across multiple systems.

   *  Finally, in traditional architectures, connecting multiple
      enterprise systems—such as CRM, ERP, and payment systems—often
      requires a complex, centrally defined orchestration layer managed
      by developers.  This centralized control is prone to bottlenecks
      and limits flexible cross-functional collaboration.

4.4.  TO-BE: Agentic Service Interconnection

   Agentic interconnection/orchestration fundamentally overturns the
   traditional models mentioned above by introducing goal-centric,
   adaptive execution capabilities.

   *  Agents treat APIs as dynamic building blocks rather than fixed
      execution paths.  Based on real-time context and shared memory,
      they flexibly select and invoke the most relevant APIs, enabling
      collaboration across various systems.  This "context-aware
      decision-making" capability allows Agents to achieve more
      efficient cross-system integration than rigid, hard-coded scripts.

   *  Agentic workflows tackle complex problems using a multi-step,
      iterative approach.  They are capable of dynamically adapting to
      real-time data and unexpected conditions, a feat that fixed-rule
      systems cannot easily achieve.

   In short, Agentic AI represents the next phase of enterprise digital
   transformation.  For digital banking, it is no longer optional but is
   the inevitable path to achieving operational excellence and strategic
   growth.

5.  Proposed Agent Networking Architecture

5.1.  Overview

   In the banking industry, Agentic systems could categorized into two
   deployment models:

   *  Single-Agent Systems: In these systems, a single AI Agent
      processes all tasks sequentially.  They are generally suitable for
      well-defined problems or processes requiring rapid resolution,
      such as dedicated fraud monitoring or automated report generation.





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   *  Multi-Agent Systems (MAS): MAS involve multiple AI Agents
      collaborating to break down complex workflows into smaller parts.
      MAS are crucial for handling sophisticated banking workflows, such
      as credit underwriting, which involves both risk scoring and
      treasury management.  MAS typically adopt a horizontal
      collaborative structure where each Agent focuses on a narrow skill
      (e.g., a Compliance Agent or a Risk Agent) and then integrates
      their respective analyses.  This model offers higher scalability
      and flexibility but places greater demands on the mechanisms for
      inter-Agent communication, coordination, and state sharing.

   The key challenge in realizing this vision lies in constructing an
   Agent networking architecture that supports decentralization, secure
   collaboration, and stateful communication.

5.2.  Agent Gateway as a Key Enabler

   As the banking industry advances toward agentic digitization,
   securely efficiently integrating AI agents into internal banking
   systems has become a critical challenge.  In this context, the Agent
   Gateway could serve a core component for enabling this
   transformation.  Its importance is primarily reflected in the
   following three aspects:

   *  First, the Agent Gateway serves as a communication hub for
      intelligent collaboration.  It facilitates coordinated work among
      multiple AI agents by implementing unified communication protocols
      and context management, ensuring that different agents can execute
      complex business processes in an orderly and efficient manner.

   *  Second, the Agent Gateway acts as a foundation for security and
      compliance.  Functioning as a centralized access control node, it
      authenticates identities, checks permissions, and audits
      operations for all AI agents, ensuring that every action complies
      with financial regulatory requirements and safeguarding system
      security from the source.

   *  Lastly, the Agent Gateway can also serve as a simplification/
      adaptation layer for complex systems.  It encapsulates the
      intricate APIs, data sources, and business systems within banks
      into standardized services, allowing AI agents to directly invoke
      required functions without needing to understand backend technical
      details, thereby significantly reducing the complexity of system
      integration.







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6.  Security Considerations

   TBD

7.  IANA Considerations

   This document has no IANA requirements.

8.  Acknowledgements

   TBD

9.  Normative References

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC8174]  Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
              2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174,
              May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.

Authors' Addresses

   Xiaohua Men
   UnionPay
   Beijing
   China
   Email: menxiaohua@unionpay.com


   Yulun Fang
   UnionPay
   Beijing
   China
   Email: fangyulun@unionpay.com


   Bing Liu
   Huawei Technologies
   No. 156 Beiqing Road
   Beijing
   China
   Email: leo.liubing@huawei.com






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   Qiangzhou Gao
   Huawei Technologies
   No. 156 Beiqing Road
   Beijing
   China
   Email: gaoqiangzhou@huawei.com


   Nan Geng
   Huawei Technologies
   No. 156 Beiqing Road
   Beijing
   China
   Email: gengnan@huawei.com


   Xiaotong Shang
   Huawei Technologies
   No. 156 Beiqing Road
   Beijing
   China
   Email: shangxiaotong@huawei.com


   Zhenbin Li
   Huawei Technologies
   Beijing
   China
   Email: robinli314@163.com






















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