As expected, Westpac will delay the work required to update the older version of the Hogan banking system it uses to the more modern version of the same system already used at St George.Bob McKinnon, group executive, technology, told the investor briefing on Friday that, "there's currently a lot of interest in what the major banks are doing with their core banking platforms.  "Core banking means different things to different people.  "The Westpac core banking is not just a single system, but a number of integrated platforms.  In fact, almost half of our [investment] programs are related to core banking platforms.  "Some people want to compare the technology strategies that are pursued in this space, but the truth is we are all on our own unique journey.  "The difference is in timing and approach, which affects different current positions, and importantly, different business strategies.  For example, single brand versus multi-brand, or domestic versus international expansion."Westpac's multi-brand strategy, McKinnon said, "requires us to build some very specific technology capabilities that are subtly different to those of our competitors and, importantly, enable us to continue to deliver the St George merger.  "In the short-term, those benefits will come from leveraging technology that directly touches our customers.  "In the context of core banking, this includes call centre and branch platforms."When it comes to core product systems, our current focus is on secured lending, credit cards, and payment platforms."Westpac would, he said, "in time… move to a single platform for term deposit transactions and savings accounts.   "Here we will use a modernised version of St George's Hogan platform.  A system that already supports St George and Bank SA, and provides their customers with real-time banking today."McKinnon said the bank costed the shift to the updated version of Hogan at around $250 million. The bank spent $25 million on "preliminary planning and some of the design necessary for this move, he said.The remaining $225 million is outside the current investment plan since the Hogan upgrade is timed to begin in 2014. He did not say when Westpac might complete this work.McKinnon reminded listeners on Friday that "in putting together this program, we are acutely aware that large bank technology projects have a somewhat chequered history.  "A common problem with projects is they can lack clear accountability, with investment teams or committees responsible for delivery rather than individuals. That is not our approach.  "Each program has a group executive who is accountable for delivering that program, and realising the benefits associated with it.  In addition, I'm accountable for the entire portfolio."The 15 priority projects are managed by Bernadette Inglis, a former Commonwealth Bank and Suncorp executive who joined Westpac in May this year.